Concert pianist, Doctor of Musical Arts, prizewinner of international competitions in Paris and Rome, and a performer on stages across Russia, Europe, Asia and the United States. Trained in the Moscow school of piano playing, in a direct teaching line back to Franz Liszt — and, since 2006, a musician of Las Vegas.
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Recognised as a child prodigy in Siberia, Maria Pisarenko began the piano at five, gave her first solo recital at seven, and appeared as a concerto soloist with symphony orchestras by eight. After top honours at the First International Tchaikovsky Youth Competition in Moscow, she was invited to the Central Music School of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory — the heart of the Russian school of piano playing.
She went on to degrees in Piano Performance, Pedagogy and Collaborative Piano at the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music, and to a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas — alongside a Ph.D. in Linguistics.
At the Gnesins Academy she studied with Dr. Lina Bulatova, Dr. Vera Nossina and Professor Yuri Ponizovkin — a pupil of the legendary Maria Yudina and a noted Rachmaninoff scholar. She has worked in lessons and masterclasses with legends of the school — Eliso Virsaladze, Vera Gornostayeva, Sergei Dorensky, Lev Naumov and Vladimir Krainev — with consultations at The Juilliard School.
In the Russian school a pianist is shaped by a teacher, who was shaped by a teacher. Maria’s line is direct and documented — and it passes through some of the most important musicians of the last two centuries.
The greatest pianist of the nineteenth century, and the teacher from whom the modern piano tradition descends. From 1848 he lived and taught in Weimar, where pianists from all over Europe came to study with him. Read more
Studied with Liszt in Weimar. Returning to Russia in 1887, he taught at the Moscow Conservatory, where his students included Alexander Goldenweiser — and his own cousin, Sergei Rachmaninoff. Read more
Pianist, composer and one of the great professors of the Moscow Conservatory. He studied with Siloti and Pavel Pabst; his pupils included Samuil Feinberg, Grigory Ginzburg, Lazar Berman, Dmitri Bashkirov and Tatiana Nikolayeva. Read more
Two of Goldenweiser’s pupils. Nikolayeva won first prize at the International Bach Competition in Leipzig in 1950, and Shostakovich composed and dedicated his 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, to her. Ilya Klyachko, also Goldenweiser’s pupil, was one of Maria’s regular teachers at the Central Music School. Read about Nikolayeva
A pupil of Tatiana Nikolayeva, and Maria’s formative teacher at the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory.
So the line runs twice to Goldenweiser — through Nikolayeva and Kandelaki, and through Klyachko — and through Siloti to Liszt himself. As a student she also played for Nikolayeva in person.
The wider school she belongs to is the one of Heinrich Neuhaus (1888–1964), teacher of Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels and author of The Art of Piano Playing, and of Maria Yudina (1899–1970) — through Professor Ponizovkin, Yudina’s pupil, and through masterclasses with Neuhaus’s own students Lev Naumov, Vera Gornostayeva and Vladimir Krainev.
Founded in 1935 as the Moscow Conservatory’s own school for exceptionally gifted children, and the starting point of a long list of the world’s leading pianists. Maria was invited there after top honours at the First International Tchaikovsky Youth Competition in Moscow. Official site (in Russian)
Founded in 1866 by Nikolai Rubinstein; Tchaikovsky himself taught there. The conservatory of Siloti, Goldenweiser, Neuhaus and Nikolayeva — the institution the Central Music School belongs to. Official site
One of Russia’s leading music academies, founded in 1895. Maria earned degrees there in Piano Performance, Pedagogy and Collaborative Piano. Official site
Doctor of Musical Arts in piano — alongside a Ph.D. in Linguistics. Concerto soloist with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra under Taras Krysa.
“The Siberian-born artist has performed throughout Europe, and has won various competitions… a featured performer on Nevada Public Radio and a guest soloist with numerous orchestras.”Salt Lake Tribune
“She has performed on some of the most prestigious stages of the world, including in Russia, Asia, Europe, and the United States.”Clark County, Nevada, 2019 · archived page
“With a career that began with international acclaim at a young age and has continued to be successful, pianist Masha Pisarenko’s talent is one to be admired… a mature, highly experienced performing artist, an individual that can render the sincere emotion and deep feelings of the composers.”Southern Utah University
“Intimate, masterful and free.”Las Vegas Sun, 2008
“The musicians had so convinced us by their moving performance.”Las Vegas Sun, Kristen Peterson, 2008
“People in the Arts: Masha Pisarenko — a weekly snapshot of creative people living in the Las Vegas Valley.”Las Vegas Sun, Kristen Peterson, 2009
“Las Vegas musician began playing piano at 5 — in Siberia.”Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2019
“The Russian Seasons, a celebration of Russian arts, music and culture… The event is being presented by pianist Dr. Maria Pisarenko and friends.”Las Vegas Review-Journal, Shea Johnson, 2019
“Pianist Maria Pisarenko was the winner of the Reno Chamber Orchestra’s twenty-third annual College Concerto Competition.”This Is Reno, 2010
“Pisarenko performed solos, concertos and competitions throughout Russia, France, Italy, England and Ukraine before leaving Russia for the United States in search of something new.”Prescott Pops Symphony, guest-artist page
Every line above is quoted word for word from a published source. Where the article is online, the publication’s name is a link — open it and read the original; the Clark County release survives as an archived copy. Broadcast and interviewed on Nevada Public Radio (KNPR), Reno Public Radio (KUNR), Radio of Russia and Channel One Russia. On screen: Portrait of a Pianist (2019), a short film she co-directed with Saul Morales and appears in.
These are not testimonials collected from a form. They are signed letters and certificates from a Las Vegas Philharmonic conductor, from music directors who programmed her, from a university department head, and from Steinway & Sons. Each document is reproduced below — open any of them and read the original.
“It gives me great pleasure to recommend to your attention an exceptionally gifted pianist… Her superb technique was placed clearly at the service of well-crafted and eloquent musical concepts which communicated beautifully to her audiences. Her ease, fluidity, and poetic interpretation… reminded me very much of Valentina Lisitsa.”Harold WellerFounding Music Director & Conductor Laureate, The Las Vegas Philharmonic · March 2010 Read the document →
“I have only the highest praise for pianist Masha Pisarenko… Masha’s piano skills are formidable and her interpretations sensitive. She was extremely well-prepared in all three programs… Her renditions in the Choral Fantasia and the Concerto were accorded standing ovations!”Dr. Douglas R. PetersonMusic Director, Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society · February 2010 Read the document →
“The audience was very impressed with her artistry in a wide range of musical styles. One of our finest piano majors… noted that this may have been the best recital he has ever attended. Another audience member perceived each note as having a life of its own, and noted Ms. Pisarenko’s ability to make the notes ‘dance with each other.’”Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel, NCTMDirector of Keyboard Studies, Department of Music, Southern Utah University · April 2012 Read the document →
“Certificate of Appreciation — in recognition of your graciously sharing your musical artistry.”Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society50th Anniversary season, 1963–2013 · signed by Music Director Dr. Douglas R. Peterson · January 2013 Read the document →
“Steinway & Sons is pleased to recognize Dr. Maria Pisarenko, 2018 Top Music Teacher.”Steinway & SonsSigned by Ron Losby, Chief Executive Officer, Steinway Musical Instruments · 2018 Read the document →
“Congratulations to you on becoming First Prize Winner of the Reno Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition… It appears that you are on your way to a very prominent artistic career. The College of Fine Arts and the university are very proud of your accomplishment.”Michael W. Bowers, Ph.D.Executive Vice President & Provost, University of Nevada, Las Vegas · January 2010 Read the document →
“Masha’s piano skills are formidable and her interpretations, sensitive. She was extremely well-prepared in all four programs… A repeat performance of the Mozart Concerto 21 with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra received great praise.”Dr. Douglas R. PetersonMusic Director and CEO, Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society · October 2017, after four programmes together Read the document →
“One of my colleagues commented enthusiastically on the performance of the Toccata in E Minor by Bach, admiring Ms. Pisarenko’s ability to convey the complex polyphonic texture by giving each voice its own distinct color.”Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel, NCTMDirector of Keyboard Studies, Southern Utah University · October 2013, a second invitation Read the document →
Also on file, and available on request: letters of appreciation from ABRSM — the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London — signed by Chief Executive Christopher Cobb, for pupils of hers invited to the High Scorers’ Concert in 2025 and in 2026, and a letter from Dámaris Morales-Alvarez, Piano Program Coordinator at the College of Southern Nevada (2017), on her teaching.
Every letter and certificate above is a photograph of the original document, reproduced whole. The only thing removed is the private contact details of the people who signed them. Nothing else has been altered, and every name, title and date can be checked.
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