Elena Tolstykh

Elena Tolstykh was born in Sverdlovsk, Russia, has acquired her first teaching license in Ufa (Russia) at the Music Lyceum for gifted children being still of school age, has continued her studies in Moscow at the Gnesin Music Academy and graduated with honors majoring in education and musicology. This was followed by several years of teaching in Germany and the Doctoral Program in Moscow. Parallel to the scientific and educational activities at the Gnesin Academy of Music and as teaching piano in Gottingen (Germany), Elena went abroad as an artist with the project “Bell Tango”.

Since 2005 Elena is the manager and artistic director of the music educational institution SPIELSTATT she founded, a private music school for children and adults, hobbyists and professional.

Among the students of piano class of Elena Tolstykh several winners of Austrian and international competitions are to be found (Austria, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, USA ect.) both classical and innovative directions. Particularly well received is a new genre of children’s theatrical piano duo invented by Elena Tolstykh, which brought not only victories at prestigious national and international competitions, and has been recognized in the best concert halls (Carnegie Hall in New York) and festivals of high professional level (Classic op’t Amstelvelden in Amsterdam).

Several awards for special achievements as musical educator were received by Elena Tolstykh at national and international competitions in Europe and USA. She is also member of jury at international musical competitions for children and youth and special representative of FEURICH piano manufacturer, acting as worldwide award distributor, awards, which are meant to foster creativity and originality of performance and performer.

2012 Elena Tolstykh opens the Summer Music Academy in Vienna, which is a platform for high-level professional master classes, courses for teachers and work shops for music lovers, combining music lessons with cultural program of Viennese life.
Since 2015 Elena Tolstykh is part of Team Vienna Virtuoso – under the artistic direction of Prof. Stefan Vladar – as professional consultant and educator in the piano trade with an emphasis on preparing for competitions.

Since 2016 Elena Tolstykh is the main organizer and artistic director of the International FEURICH Piano and Chamber Music Competition.

Under her leadership international jury, organized master-classes and concerts for the winners on the stages of Amsterdam (Netherlands), Hamburg (Germany) and Copenhagen (Denmark).