Clara Schumann Variations on a theme by Robert Schumann, op.20
Schumann  Allegro op.8

In September 2009 Sofya Gulyak was awarded the 1st prize and the Princess Mary Gold Medal at the Sixteenth Leeds International Piano Competition – the first woman in the historyof the competition to achieve this distinction. Since then she has appeared all over the world to great acclaim. Her recital programs are frequently reviewed in superlatives, and her concerto appearances with major orchestras are noted inglowing terms by the world’s music press. Sofya has been praised for her “tremendous precision and coloration…exquisite soft playing …with delicacy” and described as a “Rach star”(Washington Post).

Sofya Gulyak is a native of Kazan (Russia) where she studied in a Special Music College under Nailya Khakimova, and then in Kazan State Conservatoire under Professor Elfiya Burnasheva.After that she continued her studies at the Piano Academy“Incontri col Maestro” (Imola, Italy) with Boris Petrushanskyand at the Royal College of Music in London with VanessaLatarche.

Sofya Gulyak attended as a jury member of the internationalpiano competitions in Italy, Serbia, France, Germany, Russia, Greece, United States, China, South Korea, Singapore etc. and was invited to teach master classes in China, Italy, Austria,United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, HongKong, Mexico, USA, Canada, Germany.

She is presently a professor of the piano at the Royal College of Music in London. Her playing has been broadcast on radio and TV in Russia, Poland, France, Italy, Germany, United States, Finland, Denmark, Serbia, New Zealand, Brazil,Mexico, United Kingdom (BBC3 and BBC4) and othercountries.

(Copenhagen), Gyeongnam International Piano Competition (South Korea) and the Allegro vivo International Piano Competition (SanMarino).

We are delighted to welcome her for her first visit to Rhosygilwen.