“Steinway means excellence, sophistication, craftsmanship, and recognition. Steinways are the ultimate tool for pianists to really elevate music and transcend in the artistic world.”

Kristhyan Benitez

Fervently sought after as a recitalist, improviser, and arranger, Pianist Kristhyan Benitez is part of the new generation of Venezuelan musicians earning international attention. Jose Antonio Abreu, founder and director of “El Sistema”, describes Kristhyan as “one of the most important and brilliant leaders of the musical movement in Venezuela and the whole Continent.” Pianist and mentor, Phillippe Entremont described his impression of Benitez: “his commitment, talent, imagination, drive, passion and intelligence make Kristhyan an outstanding musician and performer.”

Kristhyan has appeared on some of the world’s most prestigious stages including Philarmonie Hall (Berlin), Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco), Town Hall (New York), National Center for the performing arts (Beijing), Ehrbar Saal (Vienna), Salle Cortot (Paris), Amadeo Roldan Theater (Havana), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City) and Rios Reyna at the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex (Caracas), with performances throughout Europe, South America and the United States. He has performed under the baton of Claudio Abbado, Gustavo Dudamel, Alondra de la Parra, Carlos Riazuelo, Felipe Izcaray, Giancarlo Guerrero, Piero Gamba, Patrick Lange, James Orent, Benjamin Zander, and Eduardo Marturet. His orchestral engagements include the Simon Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, San Francisco Symphony, La Havana Symphony, Berliner Symphoniker, Miami Symphony, among others.

Kristhyan served as assistant conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas (POA) in 2005 where he worked along with young Conductor Alondra de la Parra. He performed with the POA on their Sony Classics Debut CD, and toured with the orchestra in Alice Tully Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall in May of 2010. In 2013, he was appointed the new Artistin-Residence of Venezuela’s El Sistema. He was the Artist in Residence at the Panama Music Academy & Festival, and later at the Newport Music Festival.

Kristhyan’s second album “Miniatures” was released in March 2016, and garnered the Bronze Medal at the Global Music Awards. He was subsequently invited by the Ministry of Culture of China to give an 11city tour throughout the country, and went on to give further recital performances of his work in Mexico, Taiwan, Colombia, Panama, Argentina, Venezuela, and the United States. His next record, Nosotros, won the Global Music Awards Silver Medal in the Best Album and Best Artist categories. Now a recording artist on the Steinway Label, his recent album of Latin American repertoire was released in the summer of 2020 and includes music from Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico. 

He is the recipient of the prestigious “International Master for Piano Artist” at the École Normale de Musique “Alfred Cortot” in Paris, France, as well as a host of other top prizes in national and international competitions. He received the “Jose Felix Ribas Award,” for his cultural contributions and the enhancement of his country overseas the highest honor given by the President of Venezuela. He has since served on the jury of several prestigious international piano competitions in Lithuania, Venezuela, Germany, and Mexico.

Kristhyan Benitez is a Steinway Artist.