Emerging Artist Spotlight | Boris Krivoshein

As Cedille approaches the semifinal and final rounds of its Emerging Artist Competition on May 17 and 18, 2025, we’re taking this opportunity to introduce you to the very talented artists participating in this year’s event!

Born in Russia in 1991, Boris Krivoshein actively performs in Russia and the United States as both a soloist and a collaborative pianist. He is a laureate of many international competitions including winning Philadelphia’s Young Classical Virtuosos of Tomorrow Competition (2017); Ruza’s (Russia) XXIV International Festival of the “Musica Classica” Competition (2018, in the Collaborative Pianist Division); the VI International Competition of Musicians in Cyprus (2020, in the Piano Soloist Division); Hartford, CT’s XV Chopin International Piano Competition (2024); and the DePaul Concerto Competition (2025).

Mr. Krivoshein is currently completing an Artist Diploma in Piano Performance at the DePaul University School of Music. He previously studied at the Tomsk College of Music, Novosibirsk State Conservatory, and Russia’s Gnessin Academy.

Learn more about Boris through the video interview and transcription below.

When did you fall in love with classical music?

I’m from Russia, from Siberia. I started to play piano when I was 8, but I was born like in small Siberian village and it wasn’t very serious. Like the first time I like touched grand piano. I was, like, 14, I think. And then I went like bigger city. I went to musical college and after that I was like in army for a while because it’s mandatory to go to the army for men in Russia. It was a kind of tough time, tough time for me. So I couldn’t play piano for almost two years, but I played tuba there. I have big lips, I have to play tuba! Then I studied in Moscow and after that I came here. And now I’m just thinking more about what I really want to say in music and what pieces, what I want to play.

Tell us about the album you would like to create with Cedille Records.

This situation like with Ukraine and Russia, like, bothers me a lot. And so I kind of started to listen more Ukrainian music, Ukrainian composers. And there is very famous, very great composer Silvestrov. His music is great. Yeah. He has like, small pieces, called Bagatelles. So I would love to record them. And actually there are like, a lot of Siberian composers. Like this summer I was just like, emailing them and asking for their pieces. And there’s so many composers, there is no like recording of them. There are some, but not a lot.

For you, what would make a successful album recording?

I think, for me, success it will be if I’m satisfied with this recording. If I get home, and I want to listen to it. And for me, if I’m satisfied, I think people will like it.