Vladimir Ashkenazy

Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy was born on July 6, 1937, in Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky). His father, named David Ashkenazi, was a popular concert pianist in the Soviet Union. His mother, named Evstolia Grigoryevna (nee Plotnova), was also a musician. Young Ashkenazy studied piano at the Central School of Music in Moscow. In 1952, then 14-year-old, Askenazy premiered the 3rd piano concerto by Dmitri Kabalevsky. In 1955 he won the 2nd prize at the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw. In 1956 he won the 1st prize at the Queen Elizabeth International Piano Competition in Brussels. From 1958-1963 he studied at the Moscow Conservatory under renown pianist Lev Oborin. In 1961 Askenazy married his fellow student Thorunn Joannsdottir and they had a son, Vladimir, born in Moscow. Mr. Ashkenazy became the citizen of Iceland in 1972. Vladimir Askenazy shot to fame after he won the 1st prize at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in 1962. The same year he gave successful piano recita