Nikita Fitenko & Katerina Zaitseva
Nikita Fitenko and Katerina Zaitseva have been playing as a duo since 2001. Hailed by critics for their “superlative sound, superlative interpretation, and superlative pianism…” (European Piano Teachers Association Journal), the duo has performed and presented masterclasses worldwide with most recent appearances at the Moscow State Conservatory Hall (Russia), the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Tokyo College of Music (Japan), Ginza Yamaha Hall (Tokyo, Japan), Munetsugu Hall (Nagoya, Japan), Harbin Conservatory (China), Nancyphonies Music Festival (France), and Madeira Music Festival (Portugal).
In the review of their performance of the Hungarian Dances by Brahms and Slavonic Dances by Dvorak at Nancyphonies Festival, the music critic wrote: “Zaitseva and Fitenko created music that breathed without extravagance…the four hands putting clarity between the notes which made ribbons fly, lace dance, and wooden floors crack” (L’EST REPUBLICAIN, France). Available through Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify, their critically acclaimed CDs featuring works for piano four hands by Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, as well as Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 1 and Symphonic Dances for two pianos, were released internationally by the Classical Records label.
Nikita Fitenko
Internationally acclaimed pianist and Yamaha Artist Nikita Fitenko has performed recitals and with orchestras in the former Soviet Union, Europe, Asia, and South and North America.
He holds degrees from St. Petersburg State Conservatory (BM) and University of North Texas (MM and DMA). His discography includes eight commercial CDs of piano solo, piano duo (with Katerina Zaitseva) and concerto works available on Spotify, Amazon, and iTunes. Dr. Fitenko is the artistic director of the American International Piano Competition and Festival (www.aipfc.us) and Washington International Piano Festival (www.washingtonpianofest.com).
Currently, Dr. Fitenko is Professor of Piano at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Prior to that he was Associate Professor and coordinator of Keyboard Area at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Dr. Fitenko was also the founder of the Louisiana and Florida International Piano Competitions. More information can be obtained at www.fitenko.com
Duo Pianists Nikita Fitenko and Katerina Zaitseva
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 4 PM
Peace United Church
900 High St. Santa Cruz, CA
Proudly Presenting
Duo Pianists
Nikita Fitenko
And
Katerina Zaitseva
Program includes:
Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 1
Ravel’s La Valse
&
Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess
Katerina Zaitseva
Praised by the Fanfare magazine as a pianist with an “imaginative and colorful interpretive approach”, Katerina Zaitseva has performed in the United States, Germany, Luxemburg, France, Italy, Portugal, South Korea, Japan, China, and Russia at major venues that have included the Moscow State Conservatory Hall, John F. Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art, Yamaha Hall in New York, as well as the opening of the Meadows Museum of Art in Dallas, with Juan Carlos II of Spain in attendance. Ms. Zaitseva has been featured as soloist with many orchestras including the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra and Dallas Chamber Orchestra among others. Her seven CD recordings released by the Classical Records label and available through Amazon, have garnered international critical acclaim. She is currently on the faculty at the Levine School of Music in Washington D.C. Katerina holds her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland, Master of Music from the Southern Methodist University, Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas, and Diploma from the Music School affiliated with the Moscow State Conservatory in Russia. Her principal teachers include Joaquín Achúcarro, Larissa Dedova, Pamela Mia Paul, and Neil Rutman.