The piano remains the king of instruments, and today's greatest pianists continue to push the boundaries of what's possible. These world-class performers blend classical mastery with innovative interpretation, creating unforgettable musical experiences.
From Asia to America to Europe, today's most famous pianists each bring their unique artistry to the instrument. Whether they're child prodigies turned Grammy winners or classical virtuosos reaching new audiences, these artists represent the pinnacle of piano performance in the 21st century.
Ready to discover the best pianists in the world today?
Lang Lang
He played Mozart's solo repertoire for an invaluable moment in the Hall of Mirrors of Versailles. Barely 35 years old, the Chinese pianist is already at the top of his art!
Renowned for his "theatrical" play (critics will say that he sometimes makes it a little too much), Lang Lang is decorated in most of the world's major music institutions.
Lang Lang appeared at the Grammy Awards with the band Metallica for an incredible solo of 6 minutes. For lovers of mixing musical genres, it is a classic that we advise you to listen to with closed eyes!
Lang Lang has achieved superstar status. For his 30th birthday, the virtuoso played in Germany in the O2 World of Berlin before 10,000 spectators. A true phenomenon, it is also one of the emblems of the brand Adidas that has grafted a model of shoes in his name.
Lang Lang is the new little piano prince who started at the age of 3 and a half at the conservatory in Beijing. Truly gifted. If you feel your time is running out and want to start your piano lessons in Wollongong, it will only take three clicks to find Superprof!
Martha Argerich
Argentine pianist Martha Argerich has become a classical music legend of the 20th and 21st centuries thanks to her extensive career, which was briefly interrupted by a terrible illness. However, she possessed the strength and fortune to continue mastering the art of piano playing alongside the world's finest orchestras, rarely giving solo recitals. Born in 1941, Argerich's talent shone from her very young years:
Gave her first concert in Buenos Aires.
Won the prestigious Geneva and Busoni Competitions
Won the Chopin Competition in Warsaw.
Despite being a child prodigy who performed internationally - and speaks six languages- even receiving a scholarship from President Perón to study abroad, this intense responsibility caused her significant anxiety. Battling every obstacle, her talent for working with orchestras, mastery of dynamics, spectacular memory, and impressive finger agility allowed her to thrive, dominating the classical repertoire, especially that of Chopin.
Her most notable interpretations include:
- Concerto No. 1 by Liszt
- Concerto No. 1 and no. 2 by Beethoven
- Concerto no. 1 by Tchaikovsky
- Concerto Op 54 by Schumann
- Concerto No. 1 and no. 2 by Chopin
Married three times to men involved in the arts—one of her daughters, Lyda Chen, is a renowned violinist—Martha continues to accumulate awards, including Grammys, and to mesmerise the world with her concerts.
Grigory Sokolov
In an era of overexposure, Grigori Sokolov stands among those who have preferred discretion for decades. This Russian pianist has spent the majority of his career out of the spotlight, which hasn't impeded his piano interpretations from achieving global success.
While his public appearances are few—and he has even declined some awards—his concerts are renowned for astonishing interactions with the orchestra, offering attendees a truly unique experience.
Sokolov doesn't play encores, avoids outdoor concerts (considering them detrimental to the instrument), and refrains from extensive tours, being extremely meticulous about venue acoustics. He prefers to provide a more intimate experience, focusing on being "in the here and now."
He's rarely been seen outside Europe, but his fans appreciate his simplicity and genuine interest in the music. Winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition at just 16, he admits that he disliked competitions but recognises that they paved the way for him as a concert pianist.
Sokolov has carved his name on the books: a marvellous virtuoso celebrated for perfectly conveying the works of Liszt, Chopin, Mozart, and Couperin, among others, in his always surprising programmes. Discover how some of the most renowned pieces by the composers mentioned before with the best tutorials for learning the piano!
Yuja Wang
Yuja Wang is a true musical phenomenon for the piano, bringing a fresh perspective to classical music that contrasts with the traditional conservatism of that world. Known for her interpretations of classical music giants such as Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Prokofiev, this Chinese pianist performs over 100 concerts annually. Born in 1987, Wang debuted with the China National Symphony Orchestra at nine.
Wang is energy in its purest form. Her interpretations gather thousands of people who try to find out how it is possible to have such perfect rhythm and finger control. She has carved out a niche in the contemporary scene not only through her piano virtuosity but also through her charisma and openness to the public.
With a constant and approachable presence on social media, she shares insights into her tours, practice, and collaborations with major brands, such as Rolex and Louis Vuitton. Further, she is an official ambassador of the prestigious Steinway & Sons.
Wang enjoys a wide reputation that has led to collaborations with experienced pianists like the Argentinian Martha Argerich; she has not only had the opportunity to play at historic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Philharmonie de Paris, and the Royal Albert Hall but has also been one of the few female pianists to reach a mass audience, performing seamlessly at venues like the Kennedy Centre or the Hollywood Bowl to sold-out crowds.
Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, and Canada are some of the countries featured on her current tour. Wang is a pianist who has dared to "break the mould" without sacrificing her interpretive style, bringing a new vibrancy to her profession.
Daniil Trifonov
One of the 21st century's most prominent piano stars, young Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov rose to international fame, winning the Cliburn Competition and the silver medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011.
Trifonov, who seems to pour his heart and soul into every performance with overwhelming energy, is praised for his contrasting poetic and energetic touch, technical finesse, and eclectic repertoire on the piano. Schumann, Prokofiev, Bach, Liszt, and Chopin are favourites in his classical concerts.
Still, much like Yuja Wang, Trifonov has ventured beyond the conventional image of the classical pianist, even showcasing his talent in adapting the score for the film Home Alone by the renowned John Williams; he admits it was one of his favourites as a child.
In addition to numerous recorded albums, this pianist, who isn't afraid to display his appreciation for more popular genres, has also developed significant work as a composer. His collaborations with his mentor Sergei Babayan and Aaron Jay Kernis, a Pulitzer Prize winner for music and one of today's most prominent American composers, stand out.
Daniil Trifonov is also a favourite with current audiences for his simplicity and charisma, which are evident in his many festival appearances and tours.
Herbie Hancock
Internationally recognised as one of the most important figures in jazz, funk, and hip-hop of the 20th and 21st centuries, Herbie Hancock is a visionary and part of a unique generation of pianists alongside George Duke and Chick Corea. His versatility and curiosity have been key throughout his over 70-year career.
Moving between sonatas and the most difficult pieces or electronic and urban genres, Hancock has profoundly shaped the sound of contemporary music. Many regard Hancock, who studied electrical engineering concurrently with his music career, as a musical genius, sparking a revolution in the jazz world with one of his earliest recordings, the unmistakable "Watermelon Man."
He began his career alongside none other than the American legend Miles Davis, serving as the principal pianist for the Miles Davis Quintet. Davis chose Herbie without an audition, recognising his immense talent, and Hancock absorbed as much as he could during their time together.
Since he was a child, Herbie quickly found his path in music. At just 11, this Chicago-born pianist performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 26 with the Chicago Symphony.
His classical training didn't hinder his creative exploration with synthesizers and electronic keyboards, instruments he pioneered as a composer, always seeking new sounds through musical exploration and scoring hits like "Rockit".
At 85, Hancock continues to experiment, but above all, to play, satisfy, and engage with his audience through jazz, which he believes is "the greatest of all human expressions, because we are constantly in the moment, creating the moment. It’s communication. It’s conversation". Do you concur?
Hans Zimmer
He's probably the most famous composer in the history of the piano of this early 21st century, with more legendary music than any others, marking his era.
Hans Zimmer started his career as a composer of electronic music (hey yes, don't judge too much by the looks!). A Hollywood producer then spotted him. Funding his own studio, "Media Ventures", was the beginning of glory for him. How did he rise to superstardom so quickly? Here are some of his greatest achievements in Hollywood:
His fame and his aura allow him to surround himself with the best musicians for his projects, to travel the world and change horizons, for example by offering performances with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. He is constantly on a world tour with a more than two hours and a half concert during which you can discover or rediscover his greatest hits.
John Williams
If Hans Zimmer has established himself as one of the greatest piano composers of original soundtracks for the cinema since the late 90s, the master of the subject remains John Williams. No one could ever accuse him of composing or playing easy piano songs (many of which you can learn with online piano lessons here).
His resume is massive in a career spread out over six decades:
🌀 John Williams has four Oscars for the best soundtrack with over fifty nominations (the highest score in the history of music behind Walt Disney)
🫧 John Williams is also a virtuoso when it comes to the violin and the cello! A true multidisciplinary artist!
🪶 Williams is Spielberg's favourite composer: he composed the original soundtracks of E.T, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Superman and Jaws.
He will remain in the youngest memories for composing the mesmerising and bewitching music of the first three Harry Potters, but especially the entire soundtrack of the Star Wars saga (including the latest episodes) with notes and tunes that are and will remain mythical.
John Williams' aura is beyond the scope of the cinema as he also composed the anthem of three Olympic games and the play that was played before Barack Obama's inauguration in 2008.
To put in simple terms, the legend of film music, it's him. And that's often overlooked in the classical piano lessons.
Yann Tiersen
It was impossible for us to write this article without mentioning Yann Tiersen, a worldwide-known French composer and piano virtuoso who is also a violinist and accordionist. He has the particularity of being left-handed, which makes his piano pieces even more difficult.
He has composed all the music of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's movies (A very long Engagment) but also the soundtracks for Good-Bye Lenin and Tabarly.
Although he can't account for the impressive record that John Williams or Hans Zimmer have, let's bet that the passing time brings Tiersen further success! ... The same that all talented pianists can dream of if they practice enough with some piano lessons in Brisbane.
Yann reached international success with the film Amélie with many budding pianists dreaming today of a no fault on Comptine d'un autre été: l'après-midi or the Valse d'Amélie. Did you know that he plays all the instruments on the album of the film?
Ludovico Einaudi
To speak of cinema and music without evoking an Italian composer would have been a crime against these two arts. Ludovico Einaudi was born on 23 November 1955 in the beautiful city of Torino; we mainly find his notes in Italian, French and American cinema.
Einaudi will undoubtedly evoke magnificent compositions for connoisseurs, but for others, here is in a few lines a quick summary of the collaborations that led the Italian pianist to inscribe his name in the pantheon of the 7th Art:
Recent movies and strong feature films, in which Ludovico Einaudi has succeeded in impressing his unique artistic touch, are imprinted with minimalism and simplicity.
But after all, Leonardo da Vinci did he not say himself:
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
Ievgeni Kissine
Russia is a country where the piano is a noble instrument reserved for the elites. Russian pianists are, in general, very well known and rightly so. Ievgeni Kissine is one of the best of these pianists, next to Alexander Scriabin. Vladimir Putin described him as "representative of the Russian musical heritage".
He is able to play everything with an exceptional virtuosity and having a preference for Bach's work, which he studied in the prestigious Russian Academy of Moscow during his piano lessons.
After performing regularly at the Bolshoi, he now performs in the world's most beautiful halls. He even attended the Grammy Awards ceremony in 1992.
Radu Lupu
Also trained at the Russian Academy, the Romanian Radu Lupu is probably the most discreet of the great contemporary pianists.
Despite his concerts around the world with the best symphony orchestras, he regularly refuses to give interviews, which reinforces his mysterious side.
Lupu is an atypical pianist. For example, he does not use a stool but a desk chair to play. In the same way, he never records. His music is only live. The pianist has received numerous awards such as the Grammy for Best Solo Instrumental Performance in 1996. He considers himself a "piano painter". Rightly, no doubt, given his talent!
Yiruma
Yiruma is part of the new wave of virtuoso pianists. Playing from the age of 5 and then graduated from two prestigious musical schools in London, the Korean artist shows a real talent in composition very early in his youth. Today, he is known and recognised worldwide for interpreting these two most famous tracks: River Flows in You and Kiss the Rain.
He is regularly playing all around the world, sign of a genuine public interest in his talent. The soft, technical, sometimes romantic melodies of his compositions transport you. While Yiruma draws much of his inspiration from the romantic music of Paris, if you live in Sydney, you can find right inspiration and explore your talent with piano lessons .
Yeol Eum Son
Yeol Eum Son is already a star of classical music in her country. With her first piano lesson at the age of three and a half, she quickly escalated in her career and earned notable achievements:
Describing herself as an emotional, sensitive but nevertheless powerful and vigorous pianist, Yeol Eum Son is an unconditional admirer of Chopin and Mozart's work. She devotes much of her time to the study of the two maestros.
Oscar Peterson
The legendary Oscar Peterson transformed the jazz piano world. His story begins in the black neighborhoods of Montreal. Very young, at the age of 5, Oscar Peterson dived into music – the trumpet first. But quickly, it is the stringed instrument that snatches everything.
At not even 10 years old, he has already behind him hours and hours spent over the black and white notes, even to the point of already having a nickname: The brown bomber of the Boogie-Woogie.
His virtuosity is also total, since he becomes a professional musician at the age of 14 years only. A genius that he will maintain throughout his life, cultivating his musicality, his inventiveness and his sense of melody, by hard work: 6 hours of practice (piano lessons) a day.
In 2015, in celebration of what would have been his 90th birthday, an album of previously unreleased jazz compositions, "Oscar, with love," was released as a gift from heaven for his fans. Who can still remember his legacy thanks to the statue of Oscar Peterson in Ottawa, Canada's capital.
Hiromi Uehara
In the internet age, Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara is a classical music "rock star". Blending jazz and classical genres, Uehara has elevated the piano's place in contemporary music by moving beyond grand names to forge her narrative through excellent technique in her compositions and reinterpretations. She has seamlessly fused her career in jazz with classical music, cultivating a dedicated fan base that thoroughly enjoys this mix.
With her classical studies completed in Japan and the United States, this pianist and composer has distinguished herself in the contemporary music scene through her experimentation and openness to collaborating with other renowned instrumentalists, elevating modern music to new heights. It's no surprise she was chosen to open the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
With several recorded albums, including a Grammy, the pianist perfectly embodies the impact of classical music today, playing with the spontaneous aspect of one genre, contrasting with her technical classical knowledge.
Behzod Abduraimov
Praised for his incredible dynamic range, Uzbek-born pianist Behzod Abduraimov has performed worldwide with top orchestras in Sydney, London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and many more, becoming an essential if you want to know everything about the piano nowadays. His breakthrough came in 2009 at a very young age with a performance of Prokofiev's Concerto No. 3 at the London International Piano Competition.
Like some of his contemporary pianist colleagues, Abduraimov has managed to bring classical music closer to mass audiences through hundreds of concerts (similar to Yuja Wang, he has had years with over 100 scheduled dates).
Behzod Abduraimov is known for the clarity, subtlety, and precision of his interpretations in extremely complex pieces. These include some of the most challenging works to play on the piano, such as Liszt's La Campanella. Abduraimov possesses a formidable technique and deep sensibility that restores the poetic character to classical music in each of his interpretations, whether it's Ravel, Price, or his favourite and admired Prokofiev.
Nahre Sol
The YouTube star is an actual box of surprises for anyone taking piano lessons. Her passion for the piano has earned her numerous accolades and enabled her to build a community of over 800,000 followers, thanks to her clear and concise communication of technical knowledge on social media.
Nahre elevates the role of the modern pianist to a new level; she also has a career as a photographer, youtuber, co-hosts the PBS series Sound Field, and co-director of chamber music, in addition to founding various projects dedicated to promoting classical and contemporary music. She performs, and her teaching reaches every corner of the world through her social media and live appearances.
After receiving classical training at one of North America's most prestigious schools and with mentors in Europe, this pianist ventured into composing, achieving mainstream recognition for her music in films.
Nahre has explored jazz, French music, and classical music, showing a complete professional vocation who seamlessly blends performance, composition, and digital education. Explore the piano world as Sol with some piano classes in Melbourne!
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