BURKARD SCHLIESSMANN

Burkard Schliessmann, recipient of the renowned “Goethe-Prize of Francfort/Main” 2019/20, Germany, is one of the compelling pianists and artists of the modern era. As well as critical recognition – including two Gold Medals “Awards of Excellence” in September 2018 from the Global Music Awards, three Silver Medals for “Outstanding Achievement” in February 2018 and 3 Silver Medals for “Outstanding Achievement” in September 2017, two Critics’ Choice Awards from the American Record Guide, two Recording of the Year Prizes from MusicWeb International, the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship Award and the “President's Citation” from the renowned Bastyr-University in Seattle, Washington-State, USA, in 2012 – he’s also developed a considerable personal following over the years.

So what is it about his playing that keeps bringing people back?

Burkard Schliessmann has regularly performed throughout Europe, in the United States, Czechoslovakia, Japan, China, Indonesia and Malaysia. He has participated in many European festivals, such as the Munich Piano Summer Festival, the festival "Frankfurt Feste", the Valldemossa Chopin Festival, and the Maurice Ravel Festival in Paris, among others. As orchestral soloist, Mr. Schliessmann's performance highlights include his orchestral solo appearances with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra Frankfurt, WDR Radio Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Symphony Orchestra Wuppertal and the New Philharmonic Westfalia, in addition to other orchestras. He enjoys great popularity in media and has been showcased at major German TV-studios, including the Philharmonie of Gasteig in Munich, the City Hall Wuppertal, and the WDR West German Radio studio in Cologne. Mr. Schliessmann has been featured by the WDR radio in its program ZDF-aspekte in a joint production of the ARD/ZDF TV- channels. He has also been featured by BR Bavarian radio, HR Hessian radio and was broadcast nationwide and throughout Europe in the cultural programs of ARTE, 3sat, Fidelio-ORF, Unitel-Classica and the US channel Classic Arts Showcase.

Burkard Schliessmann has collaborated with highly renowned regisseurs, such as José Montes-Baquer, Enrique Sánchez Lansch, Claus Viller, Lothar Mattner, Peter Gelb, Dieter Hens, Korbinian Meyer, Siegfried Aust and others.

Famous critics have had no hesitation in placing him alongside the finest pianists: "This is the most imaginative playing one has heard yet on the level of Richter Michelangeli, Serkin, Wild, Could - the highest order of artistry" wrote the »High Performance Review« in the USA.

Burkard Schliessmann is also an exceptionally gifted pedagogue: As »Distinguished University Professor« he teaches in International Masterclasses of Major-Universities throughout the world, especially in USA; among these are Curtis-Institute in Philadelphia, Lee University in Cleveland (Tennessee), Bastyr-University in Seattle (Washington-State) and others. His pedagogical concept is a unit of psyche and physis of each student and his individuality, taking this by a fusion of the art, music and the instrument. His students are coming from the United States, Europe, Russia, Croatia, Poland, China, Japan and New Zealand. Most of them are prize-winners of international piano competitions and are teaching themselves in universities or conservatories.

Burkard Schliessmann is Official Artist of STEINWAY & SONS.

From Bastyr-University in Seattle (Washington-State) he received the highest US-Academic distinction, the »President's Citation« in February 2012; in April 2013 he was awarded with the »Melvin Jones Fellow Award« from LIONS-International in recognition of his international achievements in the Arts and Culture.

Burkard Schliessmann also is a professional scuba diver and serves as an Ambassador for the "Protecting of Our Ocean Planet" program of the Project AWARE Foundation. As »PADI Master-Instructor« he can refer to more than 8.500 logged dives in the seas and oceans all over the world and has visited countries even in areas "out-of-the-way". As »PADI Specialty-Instructor« he is certified to teach classes for Underwater-Photography, Videography and all other terms.

More under Adventures in Diving.