Mackenzie Melemed

Recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 29-year-old American pianist Mackenzie Melemed is among the most respected and experienced performers of his generation. The New York Times has described him as “an excellent young pianist,” and his playing combines exceptional technical mastery with a maturity that far surpasses his years. Melemed has received praise both as a virtuosic recitalist and as a sensitive chamber musician and orchestral soloist.

In recent seasons, Melemed has worked with several internationally renowned conductors and appeared as a soloist with distinguished orchestras around the world.

A recipient of the Steinway Artist designation, Melemed completed his bachelor’s, master’s and artist diploma studies at the Juilliard School under the guidance of Robert McDonald and Emanuel Ax. During his studies, he won several prestigious awards. In 2022, he was the only pianist to receive the Avery Fisher Career Grant, awarded by Lincoln Center to support exceptional American instrumentalists at the threshold of a solo career. He has also won the Maj Lind Piano Competition (2017) and received the chamber music prize in the same competition, earned the Jade Medal at the China International Music Competition (2019), and been recognized in the American Pianists Awards (2021).

His concerts often combine traditional and more rarely performed repertoire, and he hopes listeners will find a connection even to the lesser-known works and be inspired to explore new composers.

Melemed is also a dedicated pedagogue. He runs his own online studio and recently launched the YouTube series Pianostics: Diagnostics for Pianists.

https://www.mackenziemelemed.com/