Nikita Fitenko, D.M.A.

Associate Professor, Piano

Email: Fitenko@cua.edu

Nikita Fitenko

Internationally acclaimed Russian pianist and Yamaha Artist Nikita Fitenko has performed recitals and with orchestras in the former Soviet Union, Europe, Asia, and South and North America. He has appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as St. Petersburg Capella Symphony, Russian Chamber Philharmonic, Russian Philharmonic Orchestra of Moscow, St. Petersburg State Conservatory Orchestra, State Hermitage Orchestra, Slovak National Philharmonic, Lewisville Symphony, Rapides Symphony, Northeast Texas Symphony, and Northwestern Symphony Orchestra. His future engagements this year besides the concerts in the US will bring him to France, Germany, China, South Korea, Japan, Sweden, and Russia.

Nikita Fitenko graduated from the St. Petersburg State Conservatory with a citation for excellence given to only five other graduates in the last fifty years. After receiving the Anton Rubinstein Memorial Award he came to study to the US pursuing his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of North Texas. His principal teachers included Roman Lebedev, Igor Lebedev, and Joseph Banowetz.

Nikita Fitenko is a prizewinner of numerous competitions including the Byelorussian International Piano Competition, Beethoven Piano Competition, and the Houston Symphony National Young Artist Competition among others. He has also recorded five CDs for Altarus and Classical Records labels including solo, chamber, and piano with orchestra music.

Dr. Fitenko has been invited to serve on many international piano competition juries including 2003 World International Piano Competition in Cincinnati, OH; 2008 Rachmaninov International Piano Competition in Moscow, Russia; 2008 Nordic International Piano Competition in Malmo, Sweden; and 2009 American Pianists Association (APA) International Piano Competition in Indianapolis.

Dr. Fitenko is currently Associate Professor at the Catholic University of America. Prior to that, he was Associate Professor and Coordinator of Keyboard Area at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Since 2002, Nikita Fitenko has been the artistic director of the Louisiana Piano Series International. He is also the founder and Artistic director of the Louisiana International Piano Competition and one of the organizers of the Orlando International Piano Competition.