In September 2009 *Sofya Gulyak* was awarded the 1st prize and the Princess Mary Gold Medal at the Sixteenth Leeds International Piano Competition — the first and up to the day of writing the only woman to achieve this distinction. Since then she has appeared all over the world to great acclaim.
Her recital programs are frequently reviewed in superlatives, and her concerto appearances with major orchestras are written up in glowing terms by the world’s music press. Sofya has been praised for her “tremendous precision and coloration…exquisite soft playing …delicacy yet” and described as a “Rach star” by the Washington Post.
Sofya Gulyak’s resume includes prizes at many prestigious piano competitions: she is a 1st prize winner of the William Kapell International piano competition in the USA, Maj Lind Helsinki International piano competition, Tivoli piano competition in Copenhagen, Gyeongnam International piano competition in South Corea, San Marino piano competition, second prize winner (first not awarded) of the Busoni competition in Italy and third prize winner of Marguerite Long piano competition in Paris.
Recitals and concert appearances have been numerous, with Ms.Gulyak having performed all over the globe in such venues as La Scala Theatre and Sala Verdi in Milan, Hercules-Saal in Munich, Salle Cortot, Salle Gaveau and Salle Pleyel in Paris, Big concert Hall of Moscow Conservatoire, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Kennedy-center in Washington, Palais de Musique in Strasbourg, Hong Kong City Hall, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, Aberdeen Music Hall, Salle Moliere in Lyon, Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, King Theatre in Rabat, Kursaal in Bern, Tivoli concert Hall in Copenhagen.
Ms. Gulyak appeared as a soloist with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony, Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic, Rio-de-Janeiro Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, BBC Scottish, Orchestra of Fondazione Arena di Verona, Orchestra Filarmonica di Bologna, Bucharest Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz orchestra, Ulster Symphony, Oulu Philharmonic, Leipzig Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, Morocco Philharmonic, Copenhagen Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Philippines Philharmonic, Shanghai Philharmonic.
