Petras Geniusas

Petras Geniusas is one of the most prominent, versatile and adventurous Lithuanian performers. Having mastered an extensive repertory of classical, romantic and contemporary works, he frequently appears in recitals and concerts with Lithuanian orchestras and various chamber ensembles and musicians. Apart from his appearances as a classical musician, Petras Geniušas May be seen and heard on the drama stage and in musical performances, as well as in jazz and crossover projects. His musical interests range far beyond his background as a classical concert pianist—from England virginalists and ethnic music from various parts of the world to avant-garde, jazz and electronic dance beats. This also affects the manner in which he interprets and thinks about classical music, a factor making this virtuoso unique and special as a performer.

Born into a musical family in Vilnius, he graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory of Music under Professor Vera Gornostayeva. A series of prizes in international competitions, including Second Prize in the 1989 Pilar Bayona International Competition, the First Prize in the 1991 Young Concert Artists Association International Piano Competition, 3rd Prize in the 1991 AMSA World Piano Competition of Cincinnati and the First Prize in the 1992 Palm Beach Invitational International Piano Competition confirmed his reputation as one of the most gifted and accomplished Lithuanian pianists of his generation.

In addition to regular engagements in Lithuania, he has toured in twenty countries worldwide and performed in the world’s major concert venues including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Great Hall, New York’s Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall, Tokyo’s Geijitsu Geikijo and in Vienna’s Musikverein.

Petras Geniušas career as a teacher included such appointments as Guest Faculty in Tokyo and Osaka, master classes in Scandinavia at the “Academia Baltica in 1993, 1996 and 2001 and at the Royal Academy of Music in London. From 1992 to 1998, he was teaching regularly at the Yamaha Master Class sessions in Tokyo, and currently holds a professorship from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater.

He has recorded several critically acclaimed CD's for various labels in Germany, Japan and Lithuania. A documentary “Improvisation-Theme: Petras Geniušas” was filmed in 2004 was produced by the Lithuanian National Radio and Television, which portrays his many-sided personality not in the standard concert tuxedo, but in casual dress, sharing his time with family, colleagues, friends and students between Vilnius, Moscow and London.

In recognition of his wide-ranging concert activities and artistic accomplishments, he was the recipient of the Lithuanian National Award 1991 and WIPO Creativity Award in 2004.

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