American pianist Stephen Prutsman has been hailed for his beautiful musicality, glittering virtuosity, and an approach that is highly individual - qualities which have led the classical music world to consider him among the leading pianists of his generation.

Mr. Prutsman's style reveals its heritage in the great Artur Schnabel lineage. He was born in California, and at age twelve was accepted as a student by Aube Tzerko (a former protégé and assistant of Schnabel). He later attended the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, where he studied with Leon Fleisher.

In 1990, Prutsman was a medallist and audience favorite at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, where he received special awards for his performances of Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev. The following year brought the prescient Avery Fisher Career Grant, and a medal at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium.

Stephen Prutsman performs in recital and with major orchestras throughout the U S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. Previous and upcoming orchestra engagements include: The Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Baltimore, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Detroit, Colorado, Seattle, Houston, Pacific, and Louisiana symphony orchestras, the Flanders Philharmonic, the Prague Radio Symphony, and in Germany the Chamber Philharmonic of Bremen and the State Theatre Orchestra of Mainz.

As a recitalist, he has performed in major venues throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan. He has also performed in New York City and Washington, D.C; Amsterdam, Holland; Berlin, Germany; Paris, France; Vienna, Austria, and Tokyo, Japan.

A much sought-after chamber musician and collaborator, Prutsman is a frequent guest at the Marlboro Music Festival and Spoleto USA, and has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Stephen Prutsman's long-standing commitment to creating new musical environments outside the major cultural centers has been reflected in his past work as Artistic Consultant to the American Pianists Association (of which he is a former fellow), the formation of "A Festival of Music" on the island of Guam, and the co-founding in 1991 of an International Chamber Music Festival in El Paso, Texas, where he currently serves as Festival Director. He makes his home in San Francisco, CA.