Dr. Irena Kofman
DMA, University of Miami
Adjunct Instructor
DMA, University of Miami
Adjunct Instructor
Areas of Expertise
• Piano
• Pedagogy
• Chamber Music
• Piano
• Pedagogy
• Chamber Music
Dr. Irena Kofman
The Russian–American pianist holds a Master
of Music degree after studying at the Voronezh Academy of Art and
the? Moscow State Conservatory and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from
the University of Miami. Dr. Kofman is currently a member of the
piano faculty at Florida Atlantic University.
As a child, at age 7 Irena Kofman won first prize in the Regional Piano competition with works by Bach, Mozart and others, and a few years later took first place at the Russian State Piano competition held in Belgorod. Her many other awards while in the Soviet Union include first prize at the 1985 Concerto Competition in Moscow, a special prize at the 1986 Rachmaninov Competition in Tambov, first prize at the 1988 International Chamber Music Competition in Riga (Latvia), and an Outstanding Teacher Award at the Special Preparatory School for Gifted Children in 1991. Before leaving the Soviet Union, Irena Kofman enjoyed a growing reputation by touring extensively as a soloist and chamber artist.
After settling in the United States, Dr. Kofman pursued her doctorate at the University of Miami while holding teaching positions both there and at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Rosalina Sackstein, the distinguished Cuban pianist and former student of Claudio Arrau, was her mentor at the University of Miami, where Irena Kofman wrote an in–depth dissertation on the Russian School of piano–playing. As an outstanding doctoral student of the University of Miami, Irena Kofman?was chosen, after a?preliminary piano solo competition, to perform?in different venues at Salzburg during its prestigious Summer Festival. Her personal career thus resumed and she was heard in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy.
As an inaugural member of the Arcangelo Piano Quartet, a distinguished American chamber ensemble, she has toured Guatemala, China and the United States, all to rave reviews. In the words of critic Lawrence Budmen, “Kofman’s finely manicured articulation of the piano line was wonderfully limpid and clear....The entire performance had a unique sense of deeply felt, highly personal music making.“ For the Arcangelo’s performance of Schumann’s piano quartet, critic Jeffrey Rossman wrote, “As a pianist–composer, Schumann wrote an especially virtuosic part for the keyboard. Kofman was brilliant in her phrasing and control.”
In addition to her highly acclaimed and well-loved piano studio, Irena Kofman formed a duo with the eminent Belgian pianist André De Groote. Their concerts, given in Europe and the United States, have? already been met with critical acclaim and more especially with the enthusiasm and genuine emotional involvement of their?audiences. The year 2006 saw this duo perform Beethoven’s complete works for piano duet, among many other programs. Their album “Russian Treasures,” under Hoot/Wisdom Recordings, was released in 2007 to high critical praise. James Harrington, reviewing for “American Record Guide”, remarked, “Kofman and De Groote are fully up to the technical and interpretive demands, and the recorded sound ranks with the best of the big name labels.” Their newest collaboration of the most beloved Schubert duet piano literature will be released in 2008. Dr. Kofman’s solo recordings are available on the Loconto Artists label.
As a child, at age 7 Irena Kofman won first prize in the Regional Piano competition with works by Bach, Mozart and others, and a few years later took first place at the Russian State Piano competition held in Belgorod. Her many other awards while in the Soviet Union include first prize at the 1985 Concerto Competition in Moscow, a special prize at the 1986 Rachmaninov Competition in Tambov, first prize at the 1988 International Chamber Music Competition in Riga (Latvia), and an Outstanding Teacher Award at the Special Preparatory School for Gifted Children in 1991. Before leaving the Soviet Union, Irena Kofman enjoyed a growing reputation by touring extensively as a soloist and chamber artist.
After settling in the United States, Dr. Kofman pursued her doctorate at the University of Miami while holding teaching positions both there and at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Rosalina Sackstein, the distinguished Cuban pianist and former student of Claudio Arrau, was her mentor at the University of Miami, where Irena Kofman wrote an in–depth dissertation on the Russian School of piano–playing. As an outstanding doctoral student of the University of Miami, Irena Kofman?was chosen, after a?preliminary piano solo competition, to perform?in different venues at Salzburg during its prestigious Summer Festival. Her personal career thus resumed and she was heard in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy.
As an inaugural member of the Arcangelo Piano Quartet, a distinguished American chamber ensemble, she has toured Guatemala, China and the United States, all to rave reviews. In the words of critic Lawrence Budmen, “Kofman’s finely manicured articulation of the piano line was wonderfully limpid and clear....The entire performance had a unique sense of deeply felt, highly personal music making.“ For the Arcangelo’s performance of Schumann’s piano quartet, critic Jeffrey Rossman wrote, “As a pianist–composer, Schumann wrote an especially virtuosic part for the keyboard. Kofman was brilliant in her phrasing and control.”
In addition to her highly acclaimed and well-loved piano studio, Irena Kofman formed a duo with the eminent Belgian pianist André De Groote. Their concerts, given in Europe and the United States, have? already been met with critical acclaim and more especially with the enthusiasm and genuine emotional involvement of their?audiences. The year 2006 saw this duo perform Beethoven’s complete works for piano duet, among many other programs. Their album “Russian Treasures,” under Hoot/Wisdom Recordings, was released in 2007 to high critical praise. James Harrington, reviewing for “American Record Guide”, remarked, “Kofman and De Groote are fully up to the technical and interpretive demands, and the recorded sound ranks with the best of the big name labels.” Their newest collaboration of the most beloved Schubert duet piano literature will be released in 2008. Dr. Kofman’s solo recordings are available on the Loconto Artists label.
