Anna Shelest is a Ukrainian-American classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances and musical interpretations. She was born on August 10, 1986, in Kiev, Ukraine, to a family of musicians. Her mother was a pianist, and her father was a conductor, so music was an integral part of her upbringing. Shelest began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. She studied at the Lysenko Special Music School for Gifted Children in Kiev, where she received rigorous training in piano performance and music theory. She also participated in numerous competitions and festivals, winning several awards and accolades. In 2001, Shelest moved to the United States to continue her musical education. She enrolled at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied with renowned pianist Jerome Lowenthal. She also received guidance from other distinguished musicians, including Emanuel Ax, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and Robert McDonald. During her time at Juilliard, Shelest won several competitions and awards, including the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition, the New York Piano Competition, and the Juilliard Concerto Competition. She also performed in numerous concerts and recitals, both in the United States and abroad. After graduating from Juilliard with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2008, Shelest continued her studies at the Yale School of Music, where she earned a Master of Music degree in 2010. She also received an Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music in 2011. Since then, Shelest has established herself as a prominent figure in the classical music world. She has performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. She has also collaborated with renowned conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Gerard Schwarz, and Vladimir Spivakov. Shelest has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Moscow Conservatory. She has also appeared at numerous music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, the Ravinia Festival, and the International Keyboard Institute and Festival. In addition to her performances as a soloist, Shelest is also an avid chamber musician. She has collaborated with many distinguished musicians, including violinist Vadim Repin, cellist Nina Kotova, and clarinetist David Krakauer. Shelest has recorded several albums, including "Russian Rhapsody," which features works by Russian composers such as Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev. She has also recorded a solo album of works by Chopin, Liszt, and Schumann. Throughout her career, Shelest has received numerous awards and honors. In 2013, she was named a Steinway Artist, joining a select group of pianists who are recognized for their exceptional talent and dedication to the piano. She has also been awarded the Pro Musicis International Award, the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award. In addition to her performing career, Shelest is also a dedicated educator. She has taught at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School, and she has given masterclasses and workshops at universities and music schools around the world.

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