Stefan Chaplikov

Pianist Stefan Chaplikov has performed across Europe and North America to a high critical acclaim. First prize winner of several international competitions, including the International Piano Competition Varna, International Piano Competition "Schumann-Brahms" in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, second prize at the International Piano Competition Albert-Roussel à Sofia, Mr. Chaplikov enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician. His emerging career thus far has seen him performing in venues such as Salle Cortot, Musée de l'Armée, Paris, Musée des Augustins de Toulouse, Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria, Santander, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and Koerner Hall, Toronto, Morse Recital Hall at Yale Univeristy.

His latest recording featured a solo album with Clementi Piano Sonatas for the Naxos Label, hailed by the critics as “breathtakingly beautiful” (American Record Guide), “a true musical pleasure” (Ritmo), “utter perfection” (The WholeNote). Recent performance highlights include a concerto with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria under the baton of Dian Chobanov performing Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4. In 2012, Mr. Chaplikov recorded a CD “Brahms, Variations “for the “Young soloists” collection of the Conservatorie de Paris with the support of the Meyer Foundation for cultural and artistic development. The CD was broadcasted on the program Leur premier CD of Radio France Musique. In 2014 he recorded L. V. Beethoven`s Sonata op.106 “Hammerklavier” in Koerner Hall, Toronto, as a part of the Rebanks Family Fellowship Program at the Glenn Gould School. 

Stefan has been invited to numerous music festivals and academies, among them are the 58th International Chamber Music Festival Plovdiv, the International Holland Music Sessions, Weimar Master Classes, The Banff Centre, Encuentro de Música y Academia Santander, Académie de Musique Lausanne and Festival International des Jeunes Etoiles Paris. He had the opportunity to receive the guidance of such esteemed pedagogues as Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Richard Goode, Stephen Hough, FouTs’ong, Dmitri Bashkirov, Bruno Canino, Boris Berman, Idil Biret, Eric Heidsieck, Arie Vardi, and John O`Connor.

Born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Stefan Chaplikov made his concert debut in Sofia at the age of eleven as a soloist with the Sofia Soloists chamber ensemble performing J.S. Bach's Piano Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052. He was the recipient of the Bulgarian Minister of Culture's Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievements as well as receiving an Honorary Diploma from the President of the Republic for “Exceptional Results in the Musical Arts”. In 2006, he continued his education at the Conservatoire de Paris in the studio of Michell Beroff. During his studies in Paris, Mr Chaplikov was awarded scholarships and grants from the Adami, Meyer and Tarazzi Foundations, as well as the prix Oriolis for 2010. In 2011, Stefan obtained his Master's degree in Piano from the Conservatoire de Paris with highest distinctions (Mention Très Bien). In 2013, he was accepted into the Rebanks Family Fellowship Program at The Glenn Gould School in Toronto where he had the opportunity to study with John Perry. The following year Stefan was accepted in the prestigious Artist Diploma Program at Yale School of Music in the studio of Peter Frankl and graduated in May 2016. In 2021, he graduated as a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where he was a student of the late Leon Fleisher. Currently, Stefan is an Assistant Professor of Piano in the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Art in Plovdiv.