Ivan Markov

Karina Pogosbekova is a renowned pianist and educator, emerging from Moscow's rich cultural landscape, where she was born into a family celebrated for its scientific achievements, including her father, L. Zhivotovsky, a distinguished scientist and laureate of the National Award of the Russian Federation. A testament to her musical prowess, Pogosbekova excelled at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, securing a solid foundation in both solo piano and piano accompaniment through her graduate and postgraduate studies. Her commitment to fostering the next generation of musicians is evident in her current role as a piano accompaniment instructor at the same institution.

In the competitive sphere, Pogosbekova's talents have been consistently recognized. She clinched an award for the best classical sonata performance at the Young Talent competition in Vladimir, Russia, in 1992, and went on to capture two Grand Prix at the 1993 Young Artists Competition in Cincinnati – one for her solo program and another for her orchestral concerto performance. Her laureate status was affirmed at Italy's Meranofest in 1994, and later, she earned the Best Accompanist title at Moscow's Levko Vocal Competition in 2008 and at the Inspiration Art Festival.

Pogosbekova's accolades continued with Best Accompanist awards at the First Open National Natalia Spiller Vocal Competition in 2014 and at the International Classical Music Forum in 2017, where she was also recognized for her exceptional contribution to the preparation of participants. In 2020, she was honored with the Best Accompanist award at the inaugural Russian-Chinese competition #Pushkin2020.

Beyond competitions, Pogosbekova is a dynamic concert performer. Her collaborative engagements have seen her share the stage with illustrious operatic talents such as Elena Obraztsova and Hibla Gerzmava, reflecting her versatility and demand as a top-tier accompanist. Notably, she was the regular pianist for the National Artist of the USSR, Zurab Sotkilava, for over a decade. Her diverse projects include coaching for Russia's Channel One production of "Phantom of the Opera," participating in the premiere of M. Matyushin's avant-garde opera "Victory over the Sun," and the world premiere of Ilya Demutsky's opera "Black Square."

Her entrepreneurial spirit led to the inception of the "Music of Our Time" concert project in 2019, which she founded to spotlight contemporary classical vocal music. This initiative has brought more than 50 contemporary composers' works to renowned Russian stages such as the Rachmaninoff and Small Halls of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Moscow Zaryadye Hall, engaging stars and soloists from leading opera houses.

Pogosbekova's expertise extends to adjudicating, where she has served on juries for prestigious competitions including the Renaissance International Competition and Festival in Gyumri, Armenia, the Golden Talent of the Commonwealth of Independent States competition in Russia, and the International Opera Festival "Cantofest" in Portugal, among others.

Her illustrious career not only illustrates her exceptional talent and dedication to the performance and teaching of piano accompaniment but also highlights her influence on the advancement and appreciation of contemporary classical music on the international stage.