
SANDRA SHAPIRO
Piano
“A sensitive, passionate and noble Muse…Compelling…Brilliant…Liquid sound and colors..Great artistry…”, are descriptions that have been attributed to pianist, Sandra Shapiro.
Ms. Shapiro enjoys an active career as performer, teacher, adjudicator and recording artist throughout the United States and Europe. Known as a versatile performer, she appears as soloist both in recitals and with orchestras, and as a highly sought-after chamber musician. She has received national and international awards along with glowing reviews and recognition in each of these areas.
In addition to chamber music and solo performances in the United States and Europe, this upcoming season Ms. Shapiro will collaborate with Czech violinist Ivan Ženatý, in tours of Spain, Europe, United States and Asia. Highlights include performances at Carnegie Hall, Prague’s Rudolfinum Chamber Music Series, and Valencia’s Palau de la Música. Summer activities include performing and teaching at the Montecito International Music Festival
this summer, and MusicFest Perugia.
The daughter of Russian-Israeli immigrants, she began her studies at the age of three and a half, and by age 11, was performing in recitals and as a soloist with orchestras. Because of her prodigious talent, Ms. Shapiro left home at age 15 to study at the Juilliard School upon the recommendation of her mentor, Gina Bachauer. Her teachers and greatest musical in- fluences include Leon Fleisher, John Perry, Nadia Reisenberg, and Guido Agosti.
Ms. Shapiro's performances have taken her throughout most major cities in the United States and Europe. She has been featured in radio and television productions for RIAS Berlin, Sudwestfunk Radio Production, PBS, WQXR, McGrawHill Young Artist Showcase, Australian Broadcasting Commission and NPR.
As a soloist, orchestral appearances include the Chicago Symphony, New York Philhar- monic, Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Stuttgart Symphony, Bavarian Ra- dio Symphony, Belgrade String Orchestra, Brevard Festival Orchestra, Florida Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Everett Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, as well as Cleveland Orchestra appearances at both Severance Hall and the Blossom Music Festival.
The laureate of many National and International Competitions, awards and prizes include First Prizes in the Young Musician's Foundation National Debut Competition, and The World Piano Competition, as well as a laureate in the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition. Other recognitions include the “Outstanding Chamber Musician Award” from the University of Southern California, and the “Young Maestro Award” from the Peabody Institute of Music.
As a member of the renowned duo-piano team of Hecht & Shapiro, Ms. Shapiro's laureates include winning the Munich International Duo Piano Competition, the Ellis National Duo Piano Competition, and top prizes in the Dranoff International Two Piano Competition, and the International Jeunesses Musicales Competition.
Her great love for chamber music has led to collaborations with Truls Mork, Peter Rejto, Stanley Drucker, Mats Lidstrom, Franklin Cohen, Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, and members of the New York Philharmonic on the New York Philharmonic’s Chamber Music Series.
Ms. Shapiro performs extensively as a duo with Czech violinist, Ivan Ženaty. Their partnership has taken them throughout Europe and the United States. Their performances include many re-engagements in Moravia, Czech Republic, United States and Spain. Highlights include recitals at Carnegie Hall Prague Spring Festival, and Czech Philharmonic Chamber Music Series in the famed Rudolfinum, the Palau de la Música de Valencia, as well as tours in Czech Republic and Thailand.
Ms. Shapiro’s first joint recording with Ivan Ženaty consisting of the Strauss Sonata and Martinu Sonata H.303, received a rave review from Gramophone Magazine's featured highlights citing "they breathe as one, shaping phrases with utmost unanimity of purpose and flexibility... whets the appetite for more of their distinctive artistry".
Additional recordings include "Sentimiento" on the Azica label as well as a collaboration with the principal wind players of the New York Philharmonic in an album entitled "The Complete Music of Robert Schumann for Winds and Piano”.
An experienced and recognized teacher, Ms. Shapiro is highly sought-after for master classes, symposiums, faculty and student evaluations, and adjudication both nationally and internationally. Her students have garnered awards and top prizes in numerous competitions, as well as securing positions in highly-regarded schools and universities.
As a member of the Artist-Teaching faculty, Ms. Shapiro’s summer residencies include the Montecito International Music Festival and MusicFest Perugia. She is a member of the Piano and Chamber Music faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Visiting Chamber Music Teaching Artist at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and an alumni teaching artist for The Juilliard-Nord Anglia Global Partnership Program.
Ms. Shapiro is a Steinway Artist.