The runner-up at the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition has signed an exciting new partnership deal.

Russian pianist Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev, who impressed audiences at the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia, where he earned praise for his commanding technique, elegant sound and wide-ranging repertoire, has just signed an exclusive deal with Decca Classics and Universal Music Australia. It is the first time Decca and Universal have collaborated to sign an artist.

Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev. Photo © Evgeny Evtyukhov Photography.

Born in Moscow, 23-year old Tarasevich-Nikolaev is the grandson of Russian pianist, teacher and composer Tatiana Nikolaeva. He started playing at age four and gave his first public performance when he was nine. He won five international piano youth competitions during his school years. Prior to being runner-up in Sydney last year, he won the 5th International Scriabin Piano Competition in 2012. He was awarded 2nd prize and special prize for the performance of Russian music at the 2013 Cleveland International Piano Competition, and also came second at the 2014 Grieg International Piano Competition in Bergen. In 2016, he graduated from the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory (class of Sergei...