Markus Groh

Steinway Artist Markus Groh gained immediate world attention after winning first prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels in 1995, the first German to do so. Since then his unique sound and astonishing technique have confirmed his place among the finest pianists in the world.

He has performed with major orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and the National Symphony Orchestra; London Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony, and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, under such distinguished conductors as Ivan Fischer, Neeme Järvi, Hannu Lintu, Fabio Luisi, Kent Nagano, Jonathan Nott, and David Robertson.

In 2019 Sony Classical released its first recording featuring Markus Groh performing Danny Elfman’s piano quartet with members of the Berlin Philharmonic. Awards for his previous solo recordings include Gramophone Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice;” Fonoforum’s “Stern des Monats;” Musicweb International’s “Recording of the Month;” and the Pizzicato Magazine “Supersonic Award.”

In addition to his successful performing career, Markus Groh is the founder and director of the Bebersee Festival, a chamber music festival near Berlin which in 2019 celebrated its 20th anniversary. The innovative concerts, regularly broadcast on German national radio, take place in an aircraft hangar that was previously used by Soviet troops during the Cold War. The contrast between the space’s former use and the beauty of the great chamber music repertoire fosters unique programs that include multimedia presentations and collaborations with stage actors. With an interest in context-driven performances, in 2010 he embarked on a tour through-out Germany led by horse-drawn carriage – throughout which he gave performances on a replica of the first Steinway, the 1836 Steinway No. 1 “Kitchen Piano.” The tour was documented by the renowned German filmmaker Ralf Pleger and broadcast on German public television.
Markus Groh is currently Professor of Piano at the University of the Arts in Berlin. He is managed by Schmidt Artists.

Markus Groh has been a Steinway Artist since 1997.