Anton Smirnoff, head of the piano department at the Pascale Music Institute, began his piano studies at age of seven in Novosibirsk, Russia. As a student, he was honored by the Russian government with several special talent scholarships. After graduating from Novosibirsk State Conservatory with a Bachelor’s Degree, Mr. Smirnoff came to United States in 2006 to pursue further education.

He received his Master of Music degree from the Yale University School of Music, graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with an Artist Diploma in 2010, and later earned a Professional Studies Certificate at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, CA.

Mr. Smirnoff has made more than 1,000 public performances world-wide at venues that include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is a prizewinner at many international piano competitions, including the Moscow International Competition for Young Musicians; International Russian Music Piano Competition in San Jose, CA; Oberlin Concerto Competition; Corpus Christi International Concerto Competition; Louisiana International Piano Competition; the NTD International Piano Competition in New York; and others.

He has performed as a soloist with various orchestras including the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Tomsk Philharmonic Orchestra, San Jose Symphony and the Oberlin Orchestra. Mr. Smirnoff performed Martinu’s “La Revue de Cuisine” with members of Quatuor Ebene in Zipper Hall at the Colburn School of Music. In 2013 he collaborated with renowned double-bassist Edgar Meyer, performing the “Trout” Quintet by Schubert and “Trout Variations” in Los Angeles.

Mr. Smirnoff has participated in many international music festivals including “International Program New Names” in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Vladimir Spivakov Festival, Irkurtsk Jazz International Festival, Cassalmaggiore International Music Festival in Italy, Banff Master Classes in Canada, and most recently, Sarasota International Festival.

Mr. Smirnoff is a member of the collaborative faculty at the Heifetz International Music Institute in Virginia. He participates in the “Heifetz on Tour” music series, touring with the finest young string players in the country. He has also performed in the master classes of John Perry, Arie Vardi, Robert Levin, Hung Kuan Chen, S. Dorensky, M. Boguslavsky, M. Delli Ponti, Boris Berman, Menahem Pressler and many others.

Mr. Smirnoff currently resides in Los Angeles.