Matvejs Fokins
Matvejs Fokins from Latvia is a finalist in Solo Category I and the only pianist among this year’s finalists.
Matvejs Fokins is a young pianist with a deep and personal connection to classical music. He began playing the piano at the age of four and currently studies at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School in Riga under the guidance of Ilze Treija. His education has been enriched by masterclasses and private lessons with renowned professors such as Mira Marčenko, Vsevolod Dvorkin, Tatyana Pikayzen, and Evgenia Pelyavina.
He has participated in numerous international competitions, earning first prizes and special awards for interpretation at events including the Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Vilnius (2020), the International Classical Music Competition in Jūrmala (2020), and the International Competition in Tallinn (2022). He is also a laureate and finalist of music festivals such as Merci, Maestro! in Brussels and the Orbetello Piano Competition in Tuscany.
Among his favorite composers are Franz Liszt and Sergei Rachmaninoff. In his free time, Matvejs enjoys thinking, reading books, taking walks, watching films, and listening to music.
