Biography
Described as "dazzling" (Washington Post) critics have hailed the powerful performances of pianist Steven Spooner and noted that the "American had everything: polished technique, musical intelligence, innate sensitivity, and a personality that reaches across the keyboard." Steven has performed around the world and is quickly becoming one of the more noted American pianists of his generation. He has given solo recitals at prestigious venues such as the Salle Cortot in Paris, Holland's Vredenburg Centre, Budapest's Great Hall of the Liszt Academy, Geneva's Fete de la Musique and numerous halls across Europe, Latin America, South America, and the United States. Recently, he made his Carnegie Hall recital debut in a tour sponsored by the Hungarian Government and this season will perform in Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, Budapest, Italy, Poland, and Asia. Dr. Spooner recently mounted an enormous recital series akin to Anton Rubinstein's historic recitals of 1885. These historic concerts consisted of 17 solo piano recitals embracing the standard piano literature from the Baroque to composers of the 21st century.
Steven is a prizewinner at each of the seven international piano competitions he has entered and top prize winner at both the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the Artlivre Chopin/Liszt International Piano Competition. He was awarded First Prize and recipient of the Niekamp Career Grant as most outstanding pianist in French music at the Paris Conservatory and selected by the American Pianists Association to represent the US at international competitions despite the fact he did not enter the APA competition. He also holds prizes from the New Orleans International Piano Competition and his performance at the 1999 International Liszt Competition was a sensational success that resulted in several return invitations to Holland. Russian piano legend and Moscow Conservatory Professor Viktor Merzhanov commented, "His performances possess the deep understanding of the contents of Liszt's works, organic and instinctive feeling of form and outstanding virtuosity. The crystal-clear enunciation of each tone and the feeling of phrasal climaxes and structure are also worth mentioning. His pianistic art must attract more attention from concert organizers around the world."
Steven is an active chamber collaborator and has performed with a diverse and distinguished list of vocalists and instrumentalists including, Silk Road Ensemble Bassist Daxun Zhang, former Philadelphia Orchestra Trombonist, M. Dee Stewart, and prize-winning violinist Leor Maltinsky. Dr. Spooner's orchestral engagements include performances with the Danubia Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Crescent City Symphony, New Orleans Civic Symphony, Ozark Chamber Orchestra, and recent performances with the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin during their recent tour of North America.
Dr. Spooner has released three solo recordings on the EMR Classics Label and also made recordings for the Everythingmusic and IU recording labels. He has studied at Paris Conservatory, Moscow and Tbilisi Conservatories in the former Soviet Union, and earned his doctorate at Indiana University, Bloomington. He has served as guest artist-in-residence at Paris Conservatory Summer Sessions and has been appointed to the Artist Faculty of the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy, the International Institute for Young Musicians, and was Visiting Guest Lecturer at the renowned Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Steven currently serves on the piano faculty at the University of Kansas and specializes in workshops and lectures on a variety of performance and pedagogical topics. A dedicated and caring teacher, Steven's students have already been named winners of several prizes at national and international piano competitions. In 2008 he was the recipient of the Ivory Classics Foundation prize which enabled him to study with the legendary virtuoso Earl Wild. Steven Spooner is a Steinway Artist.
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