Biography
Mariia Gapon is a pianist and organist currently based in Switzerland. In 2026, she graduated with distinction from the Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB) with a Master of Arts in Music Performance – Classical Piano with Organ as a secondary subject. She is currently continuing her studies in the Master's programme in Music Education at the Hochschule für Musik Basel. The organ holds a special place in her artistic life: it deepens her understanding of musical time and sound, and directly shapes her pianistic thinking. In her concerts, she seeks closeness with the audience, designing programmes that invite listeners to search together for meaning, humanity, and truth through sound. Mariia Gapon is a prize-winner of international competitions, including the 7th International Piano Competition Nathan Perelman (1st Prize, St. Petersburg, 2023), the 10th International Competition "St. Petersburg in the Mirror of World Musical Culture" (1st Prize, 2022), and the Clavarte Competition in Berlin (2nd Prize, 2026). She has attended masterclasses with acclaimed musicians such as Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Tilman Krämer, as well as academies in France and Switzerland. Her principal artistic mentors are Vladimir Suslov, Oleg Weinstein, and Tomasz Herbut (piano), and Julia Glazkova and Christian Barthen (organ). As a chamber musician, she performs regularly, including with Trio Áttimo. She has also performed with orchestras such as the Yaroslavl Academic Governor's Symphony Orchestra and the St. Petersburg Camerata. Her concert activities include appearances at the Festival Les Jardins Musicaux, the Yehudi Menuhin Forum, the Berner Münster, Rüttihubelbad, and the Französische Kirche Bern. Alongside her performing career, Mariia Gapon works as an accompanist, répétiteur, and piano teacher. Since 2024, she has served as a student assistant and répétiteur for the vocal classes at HKB; previously, she taught piano and worked as an accompanist at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and at a music school. Mariia Gapon welcomes inquiries for concert projects, chamber music, and pedagogical collaborations.
Collaborations
You can collaborate with me in different formats, including solo and chamber performances, accompaniment, music teaching, and church service playing.
Solo piano performances
I am available for solo recitals and concert programmes featuring a wide range of piano repertoire. Programmes can be tailored to the occasion and venue. For bookings and further information, please contact me via email or WhatsApp.
Chamber Music
For me, chamber music is a dialogue - a process of listening, responding, and shaping the music together. I collaborate with instrumentalists and singers on recital programmes, concert projects, and masterclasses.
Collaborative piano & Accompaniment
I have extensive experience as a collaborative pianist, working with singers and instrumentalists across a wide repertoire. Strong sight-reading and eddicient preparation allow me to work effectively in rehearsals, auditions, masterclasses and performances.
Piano lessons & Coaching
I offer individual piano lessons and chamber music coaching for students of different ages and levels, as well as preparation for auditions, entrance examinations, competitions, and performances.
Church Services
I regularly accompany church services in Switzerland on both organ and piano, and have experience working within various liturgical traditions.
Organ Performances
I am available for organ recitals, concert programmes, and performances in churches and other venues. My repertoire includes works from different periods and styles.
Tomasz Herbut
Professor an der Hochschule der Künste Bern
«Mariia has an excellent sense of colour on the instrument, which allows her to create captivating sonic images on stage. Her playing is marked by great intensity of expression, temperament, and a deep sense of the dramaturgy of the music she performs.»
Oleg Weinstein
Honored Artist of Russia, Associate Professor at the N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory
“Maria has established herself as a versatile and accomplished pianist. Her repertoire is constantly expanding, and she performs frequently and successfully, giving concerts both in Russia and Switzerland. She quickly assimilates new material, masters a wide range of works, and presents them confidently on stage.”