Eduard Zilberkant is an internationally acclaimed conductor, pianist, and educator. Born in Russia, he gave his first recital on Russian television at the age of seven and made his U.S. debut at twelve. He studied with a number of renowned mentors, including Jerome Rose, Vitaly Margulis, Theodore Lettvin, Robert Shaw, Robert Spano, Carl St. Clair, and Louis Lane. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Temple University and earned a Solisten Diploma from Freiburg Musik Hochschule in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar.
Zilberkant has performed extensively across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Canada, and the United States in prestigious venues such as Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, Naples’ Teatro di San Carlo, Curtis Hall and the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Merkin Hall in New York, and the Volgograd Opera House in Russia. His solo piano album, Zilberkant Plays Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Mussorgsky (ACA label), received critical praise for its emotional depth and artistry.
For over 25 years, he has served as Music Director and Conductor of both the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and the Arctic Chamber Orchestra. Under his leadership, these ensembles have gained prominence through creative programming, international tours, and meaningful community engagement. Zilberkant has led the orchestras in performances across Alaska and on tour throughout the U.S. mainland, Canada, Europe, and Asia, including appearances at the International Gumi Music Festival in South Korea and concerts in Greece (Corfu and Samos).
He has conducted major orchestras around the world, including the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic, Martinu Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of Teatro Massimo Bellini, Orchestra of Teatro di San Carlo, Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, and the Daegu Symphony Orchestra in South Korea.
As a respected teacher and clinician, Zilberkant has given masterclasses at institutions such as the Rubinstein Academy and Cologne Musik Hochschule in Germany, the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York, the Puccini Conservatory in Italy, the Ionian Conservatory in Greece, the Gumi International Music Festival in South Korea, and the Tel Hai International Music Festival in Israel. Many of his students have gone on to win national and international competitions and pursue successful careers in music.
Since 1997, he has served as Professor of Piano and Artist in Residence at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. A dynamic and multifaceted figure in the classical music world, Zilberkant is celebrated for his artistry at the piano, insight as a conductor, dedication to teaching, and commitment to cultural enrichment. His vision and leadership have made the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and Arctic Chamber Orchestra leading cultural ambassadors for the state of Alaska.