User:Mato Gutmeister

Irina Kaufman-Brookes, (born 19 of April 1971), name of birth Irina Anatolievna Kaufman, is a Russian-British concert pianist of international acclaim.

Occupation: Classical pianist. Awards: II International Piano Competition in Andorra (1996, II prize, silver medal).

Education: Sverdlosk Special Musical School, under the Ural State Conservatory; named after M.Mussorgskiy. She graduated from The Russian State Musical Academy, named after Gnesins. Irina also studied under Maria Bogomaz, Lev Naumov and Evgeniy Lieberman. After graduation, she was serving in the State Russian Musical Academy named by Maimoneed (1996-2004).

Irina Kaufman-Brookes started her musical career at the age of 5, and has been performing on stage from her 9 years old.In her early childhood she traveled a lot with her grandmother, the famous Soviet-Russian composer Klara Katsman (Клара Кацман) performing her piano music. Later on, she has toured in Russia, Hungary, France, Belize, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Italy, Czech Republic, South Korea and Austria. She has performed as a pianist- soloist, soloist with chamber and symphonic orchestras, as a chamber ensemble artist. She has recorded several records with music by W.A.Mozart, F.Chopin, F.Liszt, C.Saint-Saenz-Lizst -Horowits, De Falia-Cziffra, E.Gireg-G.Ginzburg, S.Rakhmaninov and E.Wild-G.Gershwin,  among others.

Irina Kaufman-Brookes is known for her ability to influence and to inspire young pianists. She teaches actively and has been working with students from many countries of the world. Most of these students are award-winners of different piano competitions. Irina Kaufman-Brookes gives masterclasses in Costa-Rica, Mexico, Belize and other countries. During summer time she has been faculty member of different festivals, for example Petroff Piano Festival in Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic) and Cremona International Music Academy and Festival (Italy). She is often invited as a jury-member of different piano competitions, and she has been from 2013 the Chairwoman of American Protege Concerto competition.

From 2014 to 2017 she formed a duo with her husband, the violist Constantine Merezhnikov. They played in many concert halls. The famous Costarican composer Mario Alfaguell has dedicated Merezhnikov-Kaufman Duo his Sonata for Viola and Piano. The Duo was the first performer of this composition. After their divorce in 2017, both musicians went on different directions.