Mackenzie Melemd in Concert

Recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 30-year-old American pianist Mackenzie Melemed has emerged as one of the most distinctive musical voices of his generation, admired for his nuanced interpretations, technical finesse, and deep artistic sensibility. Hailed as “an excellent young pianist” by the New York Times, Melemed enjoyed an abundance of early-stage experience, with over 500 performances to his name by age 13, undoubtedly one of the most seasoned pianists among his peers. Whether in recital, chamber music, or orchestral settings, his performances are marked by a desire to communicate, to reveal, and to connect—with the score, with fellow musicians, and most of all, with the audience.

Born in Massachusetts, Melemed began pianostudies at age four, and soon after was performing weekly for senior citizens.At the age of five, he made a national appearance on The RosieO’Donnell Show, and by nine, he was headlining a 60-show run at theTropicana Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. From nine to thirteen, he wasinvited annually to perform at the White House during the Holiday Open Housecelebrations—experiences that proved instrumental in shaping his identity as aperformer. This wide-ranging exposure fostered a deep comfort on stage and anatural ease in sharing music.

Melemed's artistry goes beyond performance,combining music and storytelling into memorable experiences for both newcomersand seasoned listeners. Through thoughtfully curated programs that blendfamiliar works with rare discoveries, he creates intimate connections withaudiences, sharing insights that illuminate the music. His vision extendsbeyond the concert hall: he aims to spark curiosity for lesser-known composerswhile inspiring future pianists to explore uncharted repertoire, graduallyexpanding what we consider essential to the classical canon.

A laureate of the 2021 American PianistsAwards and a laureate of the 1st China International Music Competition, Melemedwas the only pianist to receive a 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant—one of thehighest honors bestowed upon young American classical musicians; presented byLincoln Center, Avery Fisher Career Grants are awarded to Americaninstrumentalists with the largest prospects for a major solo career. He hasperformed as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the HelsinkiPhilharmonic, the Edmonton Symphony, the Polish Radio Orchestra, and otherprominent ensembles, and has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall’s WeillRecital Hall, as well as at major venues and festivals across North America,Europe, and Asia.

Melemed, a Steinway Artist and a graduate ofThe Juilliard School, where he studied with Robert McDonald and Emanuel Ax (BM,MM, and Artist Diploma), is particularly drawn to music that lies just off thebeaten path. Alongside the classical and romantic core repertoire, he hasdeveloped a reputation for championing lesser-known works and rarely-performedpiano concerti, He views commissioning as vital to the future of the arts, abelief reflected in Israeli American composer Avner Dorman’s recent Piano Concerto No.3, written for Melemed and premieredin Europe and Canada. His upcoming debut album reflects this balance oftradition and innovation, pairing works by composers he feels especiallyconnected to—Bach, Brahms, and Liszt—with new commissions by Sir Stephen Hough(UK), Laura Kaminsky (USA), and Avner Dorman.

Since 2020, Melemed has lived in Finland. Hissuccess following the 2017 Maj Lind Piano Competition, coupled with his fluencyin Finnish from Columbia University language courses, launched his successfulperformance career with invitations to perform with nearly all of Finland’sorchestras and at major music festivals.

Former teachers include Dean Arvidson,Alexander Korsantia, Olga Rogach and William Smiddy.