Giorgi Abdaladze via Wikimedia Commons

On Jan. 14, Dean José García-León announced to the Yale School of Music community that the esteemed pedagogue and concert pianist Alexander Korsantia will serve as a Visiting Professor in the Practice of Piano starting next fall. 

Korsantia is expected to stay at the school for one year, serving as a temporary appointment for the departing Boris Slutsky, who has been at YSM since 2019.

Korsantia made a name for himself on the global stage after winning First Prize in the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition. He has since performed with some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony and the Israel Philharmonic, and collaborated with renowned artists such as Christoph Eschenbach and Paavo Järvi.

In addition to his distinguished performing career, the Georgian pianist has solidified his reputation as a sought-after teacher. For the past 22 years, he has worked with New England Conservatory’s piano faculty, which he described as one of the best piano departments in the world. 

Next year, Korsantia will continue his teaching career at both NEC and YSM, with a few select students in two separate studios. Wei-Yi Yang, professor in the Practice of Piano, said that Korsantia will be on the jury during auditions for his prospective students this February. He added that he was excited to begin working with Korsantia and looks forward to getting to know Korsantia personally ahead of the Fall. 

“He is very kind and collegial, and we look forward to him bringing a new voice and perspective to the close-knit students and faculty,” Yang said. 

Korsantia echoed Yang’s emphasis on building community within the piano faculty. 

He explained his desire to assume the position after experiencing Yale’s “welcoming atmosphere” when he visited campus to teach a masterclass last November.  

“The foremost importance to me was the courtesy, friendship, and wonderful collegial relationships that my friends who currently and used to teach at Yale described,” he said. 

Korsantia also mentioned the immense prestige of the School of Music and the fame of the institution as an inclination for joining the faculty.

In describing the process of selecting Korsantia, the piano department stressed the importance of choosing a candidate who was both an incredible performer and an excellent teacher. 

Boris Berman, head of the piano department, described Korsantia as an artist who is not overly extravagant and brings fresh interpretations to well-known pieces. Additionally, Berman said that he was impressed by Korsantia’s highly engaging teaching at the guest masterclass in November.

“When we are looking for somebody to join us, we are looking for the same quality, and we are very happy to have found those qualities in Professor Korsantia,” Berman said.

García-León agreed that Korsantia stood out as a candidate when he was a guest at the School for the masterclass. 

“The piano faculty was impressed with his exceptional artistry, engaging teaching style, and warm personality,” he said. 

Korsantia said that his offer from Yale was very generous, as it allowed him to stay “loyal” to his current conservatory. He described his relationship with NEC’s students, faculty and community as “priceless” and explained the importance of maintaining good relationships with the institution.  

While Korsantia is unsure of the duration of his partnership with Yale, he is excited to bring his teaching and experience to the School of Music. 

“The way I teach is ultimately through my experiences of performing, and I try to use that experience to pass it on to my students,” he said. 

Korsantia described himself as a believer in “humankind,” which informs his teachings. He draws on the  “spirituality of past times” and accumulating knowledge rather than adhering to a specific school of teaching. 

Korsantia will perform the opening concert of the Horowitz Piano Series in September.