Marianna Henriksson is a Finnish classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her exceptional talent and musicality. Born on May 22, 1981, in Helsinki, Finland, Marianna showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. Her parents, both music teachers, recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Marianna's early musical education was at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she studied with renowned pianist Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna. She later continued her studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover, Germany, with Professor Arie Vardi, and at the Royal College of Music in London, where she studied with Professor Dmitri Alexeev. Marianna's talent and hard work paid off when she won several prestigious international piano competitions, including the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Weimar, Germany, in 2001, and the International Jean Sibelius Piano Competition in Helsinki, Finland, in 2003. These victories launched her career and led to numerous invitations to perform as a soloist with major orchestras and at music festivals around the world. Marianna has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. She has also collaborated with many distinguished conductors, such as Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, and Valery Gergiev. One of Marianna's most memorable performances was at the 2004 BBC Proms in London, where she played Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Colin Davis. The performance was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and received critical acclaim, with The Guardian describing Marianna's playing as "dazzling" and "mesmerizing." Marianna has also made several highly acclaimed recordings, including a complete cycle of Beethoven's piano sonatas for the Ondine label. Her recording of the complete piano works of Jean Sibelius, also for Ondine, received the prestigious MIDEM Classical Award in 2011. In addition to her performing career, Marianna is also a dedicated teacher and has given masterclasses at many leading music schools, including the Juilliard School in New York, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Conservatoire de Paris. She is currently a professor of piano at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she is passing on her knowledge and experience to the next generation of young pianists. Marianna's musical style is characterized by her deep understanding of the music she plays and her ability to convey its emotional and expressive qualities to her audiences. She is known for her sensitive and nuanced interpretations of the classical repertoire, particularly the works of Beethoven, Schumann, and Sibelius. Marianna's talent and dedication to her craft have earned her numerous awards and honors, including the Pro Finlandia Medal, one of Finland's highest cultural honors, in 2012. She was also named a UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2014, in recognition of her commitment to promoting peace and cultural understanding through music. In conclusion, Marianna Henriksson is a world-renowned classical pianist who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music through her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft.

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