{{short description|German pianist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Olga Scheps | image = Olga Scheps @ 50 Years of Culture at Audi.jpg | caption = Olga Scheps at the anniversary ceremony "50 Years of Culture at Audi" on 11 November 2012 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|01|04|df=y}} | birth_place = Moscow, Russia | genre = Classical | occupation = Pianist | years_active = 1998–present | label = RCA Red Seal | website = {{url|http://www.olgascheps.de}} }}
'''Olga Scheps''' (born 4 January 1986) is a German pianist, who currently resides in Cologne, Germany.
==Biography==
===1986–2001: Early life and career beginnings===
Scheps was born on 4 January 1986, in Moscow and came to Germany at the age of six. Her parents were both Ukrainian Jews.<ref name=NAC>{{cite web | author= | title=Olga Scheps | url=https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/olga-scheps | publisher=National Arts Centre of Canada | accessdate= 6 January 2025 | url-status=live }}</ref> Influenced by the musical surroundings of her family, especially of her father Ilya Scheps (a pianist and professor at the Aachen section of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln) she began piano lessons at the age of four.<ref name="Sony">{{cite web | author= | title=Olga Scheps | url=http://www.sonymusic.de/Olga-Scheps/Biographie | publisher=Sony Music | date= | accessdate=17 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101170302/http://www.sonymusic.de/Olga-Scheps/Biographie | archive-date=1 November 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Her active concert work started at the age of twelve when already calling attention to herself by winning several first prizes at the German competitions ''Jugend musiziert'' in 1999 and ''Jugend spielt Klassik'' in 2001. At the age of 14, she debuted with orchestra at the concert series ''Junge Elite'' with Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, followed by recitals in the concert series ''Best of NRW'' and ''The Next Generation'' at Harenberg City Center Dortmund.<ref name="GNAF">{{cite web| title=Olga Scheps: Biography| url=http://www.deutsche-stiftung-musikleben.de/stipendiaten/solistenMaske.html?TID=20020927174319| publisher=German National Academic Foundation| accessdate=17 November 2012| archive-date=7 April 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407062658/http://www.deutsche-stiftung-musikleben.de/stipendiaten/solistenMaske.html?TID=20020927174319| url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2002–present: Performing and recording career=== Over the years, Scheps has performed in Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Denmark, France, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Sweden, North Macedonia, Switzerland, South Africa, United States, Israel, United Kingdom and in Asia. She made her U.S. debut performing at Majestic Theatre in San Antonio in June 2012 where she played Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the San Antonio Symphony under the baton of Sebastian Lang-Lessing.<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Bruckner Blockbuster | url=http://www.sasymphony.org/2011/06/bruckner-blockbuster/ | publisher=San Antonio Symphony | date= | accessdate=17 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711172410/http://www.sasymphony.org/2011/06/bruckner-blockbuster/ | archive-date=11 July 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Scheps frequently performs recitals at the Berlin Philharmonie, Kölner Philharmonie, Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, Prinzregententheater in Munich, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Liederhalle in Stuttgart and the Wiener Musikverein, among others. She has worked with orchestras such as the NDR Sinfonieorchester, the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, the Münchner Symphoniker, the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.
She also regularly performs at the Klavier-Festival Ruhr since her debut there in 2007, as well as other renowned festivals such as the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Heidelberger Frühling, Kissinger Sommer, Mosel Musikfestival, Mozartfest Würzburg, Rheingau Musik Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival and Sommerliche Musiktage Hitzacker. Her recital at the "Klavier-Festival Ruhr" in May 2009 was recorded and published in the "Edition Klavier-Festival Ruhr" in cooperation with the Fono Forum magazine.<ref name="Sony"/>
Scheps signed her first exclusive recording contract with RCA Red Seal (Sony Music). Her debut CD ''Chopin'' in 2010 was well received in the German press.<ref name="Releases">{{cite web | author= | title=Olga Scheps: Releases | url=http://www.sonymusic.de/Olga-Scheps/Releases | publisher=Sony Music | date= | accessdate=17 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325080457/http://www.sonymusic.de/Olga-Scheps/Releases | archive-date=25 March 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> On 17 October 2010, she subsequently earned her first ECHO Klassik Award as ''Newcomer of the Year (Piano)'' for her debut at the Philharmonie Essen.<ref>{{cite web | author=Hauk, Kirsten | title=ECHO Klassik Award winners 2010 | url=http://www.echoklassik.de/en/klassik-presse-einzelansicht/hash/f2fc26862fcbe016cb4d28219e6605a7/news/xuid16-echo-klassik-preistraeger-2010-joyce-didonato-jonas-kaufmann-paavo-jaervi-christiane-karg/ | publisher=Deutsche Phono-Akademie | date=20 July 2010 | accessdate=17 November 2012 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519093444/http://www.echoklassik.de/en/klassik-presse-einzelansicht/hash/f2fc26862fcbe016cb4d28219e6605a7/news/xuid16-echo-klassik-preistraeger-2010-joyce-didonato-jonas-kaufmann-paavo-jaervi-christiane-karg/ | archivedate=19 May 2014 }}</ref> She released her second album with works by Russian composers in the autumn of 2010. In September 2012, Scheps presented her third album ''Schubert''.<ref name="Releases"/>
As a chamber performer, Scheps has collaborated with violinists Daniel Hope and Erik Schumann, cellists Adrian Brendel, Alban Gerhardt and Jan Vogler, and violist Nils Mönkemeyer.<ref name="Sony"/>
Scheps is supported by the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben and the German National Academic Foundation.<ref name="GNAF"/>
==Artistry==
===Repertoire=== Scheps describes playing the piano "To me, music is an extension of my expressivity, the amplification of my language. The score is predetermined, but I am the interpreter. It is like acting – like the work of an actress who follows a script."
Her repertoire includes many classical works for solo recitals and also piano concertos. It contains her interpretation of the music of the Romanticism, in particular the works of Russian composers, as well as Frédéric Chopin.<ref name="Releases"/> She is particularly known for her performances as a ''crystal clear romanticist''<ref name="HHAbendblatt2">{{cite web | author=R. Schulz, Tom | title=Olga Scheps: A crystal clear romanticist. | url=http://www.abendblatt.de/kultur-live/article2063977/Olga-Scheps-eine-glasklare-Romantikerin.html | publisher=Hamburger Abendblatt | date=19 October 2011 | accessdate=17 November 2012}}</ref> who delivers a teary-eyed and emotional performance to the audience at her concerts.<ref name="HHAbendblatt">{{cite web | author=R. Schulz, Tom | title=Olga Scheps: Really beautiful as to weep. | url=http://www.abendblatt.de/kultur-live/article2066644/Olga-Scheps-Wirklich-zum-Heulen-schoen.html | publisher=Hamburger Abendblatt | date=21 October 2011 | accessdate=17 November 2012}}</ref>
She also performs less known repertoire such as Arvo Pärt's ''Lamentate'', Dvořák's Piano Concerto, and Liszt's ''Malediction''.
== Personal Life == Olga is married and has one daughter, Jana, and one son.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AWt9Fi2Sc/ Facebook post, Mar 9, 2023].</ref>
== Discography == {{Main|Olga Scheps discography}} * ''Chopin'' (2010) * ''Russian Album'' (2010) * ''Schubert'' (2012) * ''The Chopin Piano Concertos No. 1 & 2'' (2014) * ''Vocalise'' * ''Satie'' * ''Melody'' * ''Tchaikovsky'' * ''100% Scooter – Piano Only'' (2017) * '' Family'' (2021) * ''Chopin Nocturne (EP version) with cellist Raphaela Gromes''
== Awards ==
* ECHO Klassik as "Newcomer of the Year (Piano)" for ''Chopin'' (2010)
== In the media ==
In the realm of marketing, Scheps became an attractive brand ambassador. Since 2011 she has been a brand ambassador for Audi,<ref name="Audi">{{cite web | author=Braun, Sarah | title=50 Years of Culture at Audi | url=http://www.cover-mag.de/kampagne | publisher=Audi MediaServices | date=12 November 2012 | accessdate=17 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103062403/http://www.cover-mag.de/kampagne | archive-date=3 November 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Swiss-based luxury company Chopard.<ref name="Chopard">{{cite web | author= | title=Pianist Olga Scheps wears Chopard | url=http://www.mein-journal.de/news/306/Pianistin-Olga-Scheps-tr%C3%A4gt-Chopard/ | publisher=meinJournal | date=25 August 2011 | accessdate=17 November 2012 | archive-date=30 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130212817/http://www.mein-journal.de/news/306/Pianistin-Olga-Scheps-tr%C3%A4gt-Chopard/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Scheps is the face of German women's magazine COVER which was printed for the first time on 18 August 2012.<ref name="Cover">{{cite web | author= | title=COVER campaign | url=http://www.cover-mag.de/kampagne | publisher=COVER magazine | date= | accessdate=17 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103062403/http://www.cover-mag.de/kampagne | archive-date=3 November 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> She was invited to many TV Shows in Germany such as ZDF Morgenmagazin, "Klein gegen Groß" with Kai Pflaume, DAS! NDR rote Sofa, Kölner Treff, "Kleine Nachtmusik" with Götz Alsmann, and Stefan Raab's "TV Total".
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Olga Scheps}} * {{official website|http://www.olgascheps.de/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scheps, Olga}} Category:1986 births Category:Musicians from Cologne Category:Russian emigrants to Germany Category:German classical pianists Category:Living people Category:Child classical musicians Category:Academic staff of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln Category:German women classical pianists Category:21st-century German women pianists es:Olga Scheps#top