DANIEL TSELYAKOV, PIANO, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Daniel Tselyakov has garnered acclaim for the sensitivity and depth of his interpretations, as well as the rare emotional intensity, bold energy, and virtuosity that he brings to his performances. His musical journey began within a family deeply rooted in music, as he started his piano studies at the age of five under the guidance of his father, the renowned Canadian pianist Alexander Tselyakov. Additionally, he received instruction from Aster Lai and his mother, Alla Turbanova.
His prodigious talent became evident when he completed his Royal Conservatory of Music First Exam for Grade 8 with exceptional results at the tender age of eight.
Continuing his musical journey at Brandon University’s School of Music, Daniel’s dedication and talent flourished under the guidance of Dr. Michael Kim. His pursuit of musical excellence led him to complete a Bachelor of Music degree at the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with Angela Cheng. Subsequently, he achieved a Master of Music degree at the Université de Montréal under the tutelage of Jimmy Brière. Daniel’s unwavering commitment to music and his exceptional talent propelled him to earn a Doctoral degree in Piano and Musicology under the mentorship of Dr. Ning Lu at the University of Utah, USA, where he also imparted his expertise by teaching piano keyboard courses.
Daniel’s journey has been adorned with numerous high-profile scholarships, trophies, awards, and competition wins. Noteworthy among these are the MRMTA National Competition, Winnipeg Chamber Orchestra Young Artist Award, McLellan Orchestra Competition with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Award, Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg Best Performance Competition, National Canadian Music Competition, Livorno International Piano Competition (Italy), MTNA National (USA) Piano Competition, Utah Music Teachers Association Piano Concerto/Orchestra Competition, Utah MTNA Competition Artist Performance, and the San Jose International Piano Competition (USA), among others. His exceptional talent earned him full scholarships to esteemed music academies, including Pinchas Zukerman’s Young Artist Program, Art of the Piano Festival, Toronto Summer Music, and PianoTexas International Academy & Festival.
Throughout his musical education, Daniel studied under legendary mentors such as Sergei Babayan, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Olga Kern, Marc-André Hamelin, André Laplante, Marc Durand, and John Perry. His remarkable accomplishments include being the youngest musician ever invited as a guest artist with the prestigious Virtuosi Concert Series. He has also performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras, including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Sinfonietta, the Winnipeg Symphony Chamber Orchestra, and the San Luis Potosi Symphony Orchestra in Mexico. Notably, at the age of 12, he performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 as a soloist with the Penderecki String Quartet. His performances have graced prominent festivals worldwide, such as Music and Beyond, Ottawa ChamberFest, Perry Sound Festival (where he was twice honored as Young Artist of the Year at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts), Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival (where he also serves as artistic director), Agassiz Chamber Music Festival, Texas International Festival, and the Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain. Daniel’s acclaimed performances have adorned prestigious music stages including Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Markham Performing Arts Centre, Gallivan Performing Arts Center, and many more. He has also presented captivating solo recitals across Canada, the USA, and Europe in countries like Italy, France, and Spain.
Presently, Daniel proudly serves as the co-Artistic Director of the Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival in Canada. Through his dedication, he aims to nurture a rich musical experience and share his immense talent with audiences around the world.