Sofya Gulyak, Russia

Sofya Gulyak captured the First Prize in the 2007 William Kapell International Piano Competition with an electrifying performance of Sergei Rachmaninov's Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 in the Final Concerto Round with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on July 20. Ms. Gulyak will return to the Center on June 14, 2008 to perform Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor (Op.15) with the National Orchestral Institute.

Ms. Gulyak, a native of Kazan, Russia, has won prizes at many competitions, including the Artlivre International Piano Competition, International Liszt Competition, Pozzoli Competition, Piano Competition of Great Britain, Repubblicca di San Marino Piano Competition, Rachmaninov Piano Competition, Valsesia Musica Piano Competition, Grand Prix Animato Competition and Pausilypon Piano Competition. In 2006, Ms. Gulyak was first prize winner of the International Piano Competition in Rhodes, Greece and Thalberg Competition in Naples, as well as second prize winner of the International Rina Sala Gallo Piano Competition. In 2006 she also received Grand Prize in the First International Gubaidullinas Piano Competition (Kazan, Russia), and in 2007 she won first prize at the Schumann International Piano Competition in Italy (Pistoia).

Her playing has been broadcast on Russian and Polish radio and on television in Brazil and San Marino. She recorded an album with the Kazan Chamber Orchestra entitled La Primavera and has performed concerts in Russia, Poland, France, Morocco, Norway, Italy and Portugal.