Highly praised for their poetic, lyrical, virtuoso and passionate performances, Duo Jacobs-Kouzmenko has been performing intensively throughout Europe for over the past decade.
Konzert der Sonderklasse Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, GERMANY
A ravishing disc of Belgian MasterpiecesThe STRAD, UK
An irresistible, nearly overwhelming whole Fanfare USA
Ksenia Kouzmenko (Belarus) is renowned internationally for her sensitive and technically accomplished piano playing, and is much appreciated as a partner in chamber music.
Mrs Kouzmenko was born in Minsk into a family of pianists. She began her studies with Vladimir Zaretsky and Grigory Scherschewsky at the National Music College in Minsk. At the age of twelve Ksenia made her debut as a soloist with orchestra. She graduated cum laude, with Gold Medal. After that, Ksenia continued at the National Music Academy with Vladimir Olovnikov, where she received her Master degree, also cum laude, as a soloist, a teacher and in chamber music. Finally, she made her postgraduate studies with Naum Grubert at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, with financial support of the Yuri Egorov Foundation.
Musically Ksenia was highly influenced by working intensively with outstanding musicians such as Abbey Simon, György Sándor, Lazar Berman, György Kurtág, Charles Rosen, Karl-Heinz Kammerling and Ivan Moravec.
Ksenia received prizes for accompaniment at numerous international competitions. As a soloist, she won the 2nd prize at the Tromp Competition in Eindhoven, where she received the Audience Prize as well, and the 3rd prize at the Rencontres Musicales de Gaillard, France.
She played with the National Symphony Orchestra of Belarus, the Brabants Orkest, the Collegium Instrumentale Brugense and Orchestra della Svizzerra Italiana.
Ksenia has been performing throughout Europe and all over the Netherlands. In almost 30 years she has built up an enormously rich repertoire ranging from Bach till Kurtág. Recently, Ksenia discovered the joy of playing on an Erard grand piano, with its inspiring sound possibilities.
Since 1999 Mrs. Kouzmenko teaches at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.