Irena Gulzarova is a pianist recognized for her rare combination of artistic depth and strategic selectivity, focusing her career on high- level state and international engagements. Her playing has been praised for “incomparable technical skill, breathtaking phrasing and emotional potential” (Basler Zeitung), and Zubin Mehta has described her as “an artist with unusual pianistic talent.” Her performances, known for their clarity, refinement and magnetic stage presence, have made her a trusted artistic figure at events of political and global significance..

This artistic direction began in 2018 after her appearance at the Royal Academy of Arts in London at a special event organised by HarrisonParrott, where she performed for Mark Carney — today the Prime Minister of Canada and then the Governor of the Bank of England — alongside Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vadim Repin and other distinguished artists. Since then, her artistry has been featured at major international occasions, including performances for French President Emmanuel Macron, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and at the EU–Central Asia Summit in the presence of Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa. These engagements affirm her distinct role as a musical emissary, shaping the atmosphere of moments of international importance.

Throughout her career, she has appeared at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall (Perelman Stage), the Tonhalle Zürich, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, the Oxford Piano Festival and the Grafenegg Festival. She has performed with the Vienna Philharmonic, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Qatar Philharmonic, Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, under conductors including Lawrence Foster, Vladimir Spivakov, Konstantin Orbelian, Dmitry Kitayenko and Aziz Shokhakimov.

A passionate chamber musician, Gulzarova has performed with Rudolf Buchbinder, Mischa Maisky, Vadim Repin, Daniel Hope and Ilya Gringolts. Her repertoire spans from Bach to contemporary

music, with a particular dedication to new works: composers such as Dilorom Saidaminova and Dmitry Varelas have written for her, and she has premiered works by Daniel Andres, Beat Gysin and others.

Born in Tashkent in 1982 into a family of musicians, Gulzarova gave her first public performance at the age of eight and toured in Germany by thirteen. She studied at the V. Uspensky Specialized Central Music School under Lyudmila Mermelstein and Alla Kim, continued at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan with Prof. Marat Gumarov while simultaneously studying with Prof. Alexander Mndoyants at the Moscow State Conservatory, and later refined her artistry under Prof. Rudolf Buchbinder at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel.

Alongside her artistic career, Gulzarova is a committed cultural leader and educator. In April 2023, Gulzarova and a group of like-minded colleagues founded the association “Jugend beflügelt” (“Youth Inspired”), with Gulzarova serving as President. Its mission is to support young musicians through meaningful artistic projects, mentorship and cultural exchange, while inspiring broader interest in classical music among the younger generation. She holds a teaching position at the Kantonsschule Uster in Zurich, where she collaborates closely with “Jugend beflügelt” to realise international masterclasses, young artists concerts and competition initiatives, creating a platform where education and high-level artistic development intersect.

In cooperation with EMCY and the Kantonsschule Uster, she co- directed the relocation of the Vladimir Krainev International Piano Competition to Zurich in 2024, establishing “Kharkiv Meets Zurich” as an important platform for young pianists from around the world. She gives masterclasses throughout Europe and Central Asia, and her involvement in the international competition community includes jury service and participation in leading forums such as the Alink– Argerich Foundation Conference and the EMCY General Assembly. Through these activities, she combines artistic excellence with a strong commitment to cultural development and the support of young musicians.