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Born in Kiev, USSR Vladimir Zaitsev was introduced to the world of performing arts by his mother, an actress and a singer at the local Musical Comedy Theater. He started playing violin at 4 and switched to piano at 6 as soon as it became apparent that piano could stay in tune longer than violin. As a pay back for having to put up with the routine of the piano lessons his mother started giving him voice lessons. At the age of 14 Vladimir earned himself a nickname of a "backstage kid" among his mother's theater colleagues. He also developed a passion for a championship figure skating. Frequently instead of showing up for a piano lesson he would sneak away to an ice - ring to practice for one of the up-coming championships. By the time he was 15 Vladimir was involved in every high school production: he was the writer, stage and music director, stage designer, choreographer and the leading star. At 16 he made one of his life's many difficult choices: he turned down an offer to join the Ukrainian Ballet on Ice Company and instead entered Kosenko Music College in, where he studied piano with Irina Ocheretianaya. Two years later, after successful audition for the musical comedy department of the Leningrad Institute of Theatrical Arts he was ready to abandon his piano studies for the possibility of an acting career in musical theater, but was persuaded by his piano teacher to re-consider his decision. The victory at All-Ukrainian Piano Competition at Kiev Conservatory re-enforced his decision to stick to piano. Upon graduating with highest honors from the Musical College Vladimir immigrated to the United States where he entered Mannes College of Music as a piano student of Nadia Reisenberg. Upon graduating from Mannes he continued his piano studies with Alexander Eydelman in New York City.
Vladimir Zaitsev is a recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including the Julius Katchen Memorial Award, First Prize in the Five Towns Music and Arts Foundation Piano Competition, and First Prize in the Liederkranz Foundation Piano Competition. In 1984 as a finalist of Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition he performed throughout Italy. During the same year he made his Carnegie Hall debut with International Symphony as a soloist in Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1. In 1985 as a part of Town Hall Select Debuts Series Vladimir made New York solo debut, which was hailed "triumphant" by the New York Times. The following year as a winner of Ferruccio Busoni Society Award he was presented in recital at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. He made a number of appearances on WQXR Radio “Listening Room” hosted by Robert Sherman. Since 1986 Valdimir Zaitsev became the only artist in a history of Bar Harbor Festival in Maine to be invited in six festivals. His performance at the festivals 25th Anniversary was broadcast live by Main Public Television. In 1986 Vladimir’s concerts in Canada and Far East were enthusiastically received both by press and the public. In 1994 as a winner of Distinguished Artist Award of Artists International Auditions Vladimir was presented in a solo recital at Merkin Concert Hall in NYC. The following year his wife Nadia joined Vladimir in a piano duo and in May of 1996 Zaitsev Piano Duo made its Weill Recital Hall debut at Carnegie Hall as a winner of Artists International Chamber Music Award. Since then Nadia and Vladimir presented numerous concerts throughout the United States. In 2000 Fleur De Son Classics label released the duo’s critically acclaimed World Premier Recording of American piano duet music: “American Souvenirs”. During 1998-99 seasons Vladimir appeared as a soloist with Hawthorn Chamber Symphony in New Jersey in Mendelssohn Piano Concerto #1 and Mozart Piano Concerto #12.
While constantly pursuing classical piano career Vladimir never lost an interest in expressing himself as a versatile entertainer. During the past 20 years he’s entertained in a variety of nightclubs, community organizations, hotels and resorts throughout the country. As a result of a successful appearance at the NACA National Convention in THE GRAND OLE OPRY Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee in 1989, Vladimir Zaitsev became a frequent guest on college campuses. The need to use all resources available to him in order to reach out to a wide variety of audiences helped Vladimir develop a unique mix of light classical favorites and popular selections presented in an informal and lighthearted style which is rarely associated with a "formal" piano recital. In recent years he established himself as a sought after entertainer with various cruise lines. Vladimir performed on Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Crystal, Seabourn and Radisson Seven Seas in Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland, West Africa and Central America. He also makes a frequent appearances in a “Borscht Belt” Catskills resorts in up state New York.
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