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Bair Shagdaron, piano
Pianist Bair Shagdaron was born in Moscow, Russia and began studying music at age of four. In 1964 he entered the prestigious Moscow Gnesins Music School where he studied under Esther Fedorchenko and Valeria Polunina. After graduating in 1976, Mr. Shagdaron studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory under the renowned Tatiana Nikolaeva. In 1984, Mr. Shagdaron obtained his Doctorate degree in piano performance from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. In 1988, he assumed the position of Assistant Professor at the Conservatory and was an Assistant of Tatiana Nikolaeva for six years. In 1990, Dr. Shagdaron graduated from the Conservatory with his second degree in composition, studying under Albert Leman.
As an accomplished soloist, Dr. Shagdaron took fourth prize at the 1980 International J.S.Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany and third prize at the 1992 International Competition for Piano and Orchestra in Mazara del Vallo, Italy. Also in 1992 he was awarded the Honorary Title of "The People's Artist of Buryat Republic" (Russia).
Bair Shagdaron has performed throughout the USA, Russia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and Mongolia, and has appeared as a soloist with Moscow State Symphony, Moscow State Chamber Orchestra, Lithuanian National Symphony, Halle Symphony, Oradea Symphony, Zaporozhye Symphony, Buryat Philharmonic, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Moscow State Instrumental Capella, Moscow Chamber Orchestra "Collegium Musicum", Moscow Chamber Orchestra “Ricercar”, Western Piedmont Symphony and Hamburger Symphoniker.
After coming to the USA in 1996, Dr. Shagdaron taught at Ottawa University in Kansas. In 2000 he joined the faculty of Appalachian State University where he serves as Professor of Piano.