"I have been very grateful for Sandro Russo's interest in performing my piano music; his performances have shown great commitment, excellent attention to detail and a keen awareness of the interpretive needs of these various pieces. I hope his enjoyment of my music never ceases!" (Marc-André Hamelin)

"I have enjoyed his artistry, his dedication to high standards, commitment to style and how to produce sound and communicate the music beyond the stage. He has a striking presence and is a throwback to the grand tradition of elegant pianism and beautiful sound." (Jeffrey Biegel)

"Sandro played Liszt’s Concerto in A major brilliantly, with masterful technique and in the grand manner. He makes the piano sing and never forces the sound, even in forte. He was full up to the virtuosity of the piece and displayed a fine sense of poetry in the more lyric episodes." (David Gilbert)

Acclaimed for his profound sense of poetry and distinctive style, Sandro Russo has been in great demand as a soloist in many venues around the world. He invariably receives accolades for his sparkling virtuosity, and his playing has often been referred to as a throwback to the grand tradition of elegant pianism and beautiful sound.

Born in San Giovanni Gemini - Italy, Sandro Russo displayed exceptional musical talent from an early age. In 1995, he graduated summa cum laude from the V. Bellini Conservatory, and earned the Pianoforte Performing Diploma from the Royal College of Music in London with honors. In addition, he won top prize awards in numerous national and international competitions, including Senigallia, and the Ibla Grand Prize. As a result, Sandro Russo was invited to perform in some of the country’s most prestigious concert halls.

Soon after he came to the United States in April 2000, he won the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra Competition, and performed Liszt’s A major Concerto with Maestro David Gilbert at the John Harms Center for the Arts in Englewood, New Jersey. After auditioning for conductor John Yaffé, Mr. Russo was invited to make his New York City debut performing Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto. Subsequently he was presented at Carnegie Recital Hall as a winner of the 25th Frinna Awerbuch Competition.

Early in 2002, Mr. Russo gave an acclaimed Chopin recital at the prestigious Politeama Theatre in Palermo, Italy, and later appeared at the Nuove Carriere Music Festival, an international showcase for the world’s most promising young musicians. In February 2003, Mr. Russo won second prize at the Jacksonville Symphony Competition performing with the JSO conducted by Fabio Mechetti, and in 2004 he was awarded top honors at the 10th Missouri Southern International Piano Competition.

Mr. Russo’s extensive repertoire comprises well-known masterpieces of all periods as well as more obscure and challenging works of the piano literature by such composers as Medtner, Sorabji, Blumenfeld, and others. Live performances of these works featured on various internet forums have been among the most viewed classical music videos on the web. He has also been given the honor of premiering compositions by Lowell Liebermann, Paul Moravec, and Marc-André Hamelin.

Highlights of recent seasons include solo recitals for the Rachmaninoff Society in London, where his rendition of the Corelli Variations Op. 42 was praised for “a complete understanding of the work combined with a flawless technique.” He also gave a dazzling performance of Piano Transcriptions at the “Homage to Cziffra” Festival in NYC hosted by David Dubal. His appearance with the Slovak Philharmonic under the baton of Tomas Hanus in the Finals of the 5th Hummel International Piano Competition in Bratislava received high critical acclaim. In December 2005 he made his debut at the Salle Cortot in Paris during the Animato Festival “Revélations 2005” series, and subsequently appeared in such venues as Teatro Ghione in Rome, the new concert hall of the San Francisco Conservatory (American Liszt Society Festival), and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

In June 2007, he was heard in recital at Zankel Hall (Carnegie Hall) for a concert in honor of the Italian Ambassador of the UN and the “One Bright World” Foundation. That same month La Scuola d’Italia presented him in a solo recital at Carnegie Recital Hall. In recent months, he was once again invited to perform at the “Noontime Series” in San Francisco, and on November 15, 2007, the American Liszt Society – New York Chapter – invited him to perform their annual solo recital at the Yamaha Piano Salon.

Both audiences and critics have raved about the transcendental virtuosity and exquisite lyricism of these performances: “The Grieg Ballade and Rachmaninoff Etude-tableaux were utterly ravishing and at times shockingly intense. But his transcendental account of Taneyev’s Prelude and Fugue simply left nothing to be said. It was unreal; you just had to be there.” (The Rachmaninoff Society Newsletter)

In July 2008 he gave three performances of the Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Tomasz Bugaj during their summer tour in Palermo. Later in July, he appeared as the featured solo artist at the opening gala of The Music Festival of the Hamptons (Long Island), with the Brussels Chamber Orchestra under the baton of music director Michael Guttman. His solo recital at the same festival received a standing ovation, and was said to have been among the most memorable performances in its history. Upcoming engagements include recitals for “Concerts Grand” in San Francisco, and the “Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts” in Chicago.