Markus Kaitila

Markus Kaitila (b. Helsinki, 1992) has appeared as a soloist with the Joutseno Art Summer, Wratislavia, St. Peter’s Festival, Queens College, and Jackson Heights chamber orchestras as well as the One World and New Amsterdam Symphony orchestras, under conductors such as Tong Chen and Charles Neidich. He won Bronze Prize in the 2nd WPTA Finland International Piano Competition 2020 and First Prize at the Köhler-Osbahr piano competition (Duisburg) in 2013. Additionally, he has won First and Second Prizes in national chamber music competitions (Juvenalia, E. Melartin) and remains an active and widely experienced chamber musician.

Markus’ performances in Europe and the United States include the Wiener Saal (Salzburg), Musica Mundi Festival (Belgium), Theater Duisburg and Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, Klavier-Festival Ruhr, Palazzo Ricci (Montepulciano), Muziekcentrum Enschede, Helsingborg Piano Festival, and RNCM (Manchester); as well as New York’s Mannes, Merkin and Carnegie Halls. Markus has completed residences at Music Academy of the West, Chautauqua Institution, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and Pianofest in the Hamptons.

After studies at the Junior Academy of Sibelius Academy with Dr. Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna, Markus studied at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany, with Till Engel. In 2017, he graduated cum laude with a bachelor of music in piano performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music, City University of New York Queens College, under the tutelage of Nina Lelchuk. Markus holds a master of music and advanced certificate in piano performance and pedagogy from NYU Steinhardt, 2020, where he studied with Eteri Andjaparidze and continues as adjunct professor in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions.