Stefan Chaplikov

Pianist Stefan Chaplikov has received widespread critical acclaim for his performances across Europe, North America, and Asia, establishing a versatile career as a soloist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician. He has appeared in prestigious venues including Salle Cortot and the Musée de l’Armée in Paris, the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse, Bulgaria Hall in Sofia, the Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria in Santander, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and Koerner Hall in Toronto, and Morse Recital Hall at Yale University.

Stefan’s latest recording — a solo album of Clementi piano sonatas for the Naxos label — has been met with glowing praise from critics, who described it as “breathtakingly beautiful” (American Record Guide), “a true musical pleasure”(Ritmo), and “utter perfection” (The WholeNote). His other recordings include Brahms: Variations for the Young Soloists collection of the Conservatoire de Paris, featuring the piano variations of Johannes Brahms, and a performance of Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 106 “Hammerklavier,” recorded at Koerner Hall in Toronto. His recent concerto collaborations include Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C minor with the Pazardzhik Philharmonic, Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Varna Philharmonic, and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Plovdiv Philharmonic.

Stefan has participated in numerous music festivals and academies, including the Varna Summer International Festival, the 58th International Chamber Music Festival Plovdiv, the 53rd International Music Festival Sofia Music Weeks, the III International Music Festival “Strive” at the Royal Palace of Vrana in Sofia, The International Holland Music Sessions, the Weimar Master Classes, The Banff Centre, Encuentro de Música y Academia Santander, Académie de Musique de Lausanne, and the Festival International des Jeunes Étoiles in Paris. He has received guidance from esteemed mentors including Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Richard Goode, Stephen Hough, Fou Ts’ong, Dmitri Bashkirov, Bruno Canino, Boris Berman, İdil Biret, Eric Heidsieck, Arie Vardi, and John O’Connor.

A sought-after educator, Stefan has delivered lectures and masterclasses in Mexico (Institut Maurice Ravel), the United States (University of Louisville School of Music), Austria (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz), Bulgaria (National Schools of Music in Plovdiv and Varna), China (Shenyang University and Northeast Normal University, Changchun), and France. He is currently Professor of Piano at the Conservatoire de Bourg-la-Reine / Sceaux and Visiting Professor at the School of Music and Media of Shenyang University. Previously, he served on the faculties of the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv and the National Academy of Music in Sofia, and was a piano instructor at Yale University.

Born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Stefan Chaplikov made his concerto debut with the Sofia Soloists chamber ensemble, performing J.S. Bach’s Piano Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052. He graduated from the Conservatoire de Paris, studying under Michel Béroff, and continued his education at The Glenn Gould School in Toronto as a Rebanks Family Fellow, working with John Perry. Stefan earned an Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music under the guidance of Peter Frankl and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with Leon Fleisher.

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