Alexander Shtarkman’s debut recitals in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City prompted strong words of praise from audiences and critics alike. Martin Bernheimer wrote in Los Angeles Times: “Alexander Shtarkman. Remember the name… He plays the piano with all the strength, flash and eagerness that his age would suggest. He also plays with the sensitivity and mellow refinement one associates with certain grand old men of the keyboard, most of them Russian.” James Keller of The New Yorker staff wrote that “Shtarkman’s was a debut recital of importance. In fact, debuts just don’t come much better than this. Of the young pianists currently entering the international spotlight, Shtarkman is unquestionably among the most musicianly.”
Recital appearances in the United States include the Ambassador Foundation, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Tisch Center for the Arts, Ravinia Rising Stars Series, San Francisco Performances, Regional Arts Foundation at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Peace Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Collaborations with orchestras include the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Northwood Orchestra, Marin Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta and the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque.
In August 1995, Alexander Shtarkman was awarded the First Prize at the Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy. As a result of this prize, he has been offered over 60 recitals and orchestral engagements in Europe within the next few seasons. In addition to the Busoni Prize, he is a major prizewinner of the 1989 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the 1994 Tchaikovsky Competition. As well, he won the First Prize of the first Taiwan International Piano Competition in Taipei and was engaged for numerous concerts throughout Asia.
Since 2002, he been a member of the Piano Faculty at the Peabody Conservatory, and in 2020 was appointed chair of the Keyboard Department.
