Curtis Mourns the Loss of Vitalij Kuprij (Piano '00)
Curtis mourns the loss of highly regarded Ukrainian-American pianist, keyboardist, composer, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) member, and alumnus Vitalij Kuprij (Piano ’00), who passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at age 49. Mr. Kuprij performed with the symphonic heavy metal band on their latest seasonal tour through November and December 2023. He rejoined the group in 2021 after joining their lineup from 2009–19.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and bandmate, Vitalij Kuprij,” read the TSO’s statement. “He was a world-renowned classical pianist and composer. In 2010, Vitalij joined TSO for the inaugural ‘Beethoven’s Last Night’ tour and seamlessly became an integral part of the band. His flawless and energetic performances consistently captivated audiences, and many of you came to know and love him as much as we did.”
Born in 1974 in Volodarka, Ukraine, Mr. Kuprij showed early promise on the piano, studying at Kyiv’s Mykola Lysenko Music Academy with Nina Najditsch. He won first prize in the All-Union Chopin competition in the Republic of Kazan in the former Soviet Union (the youngest person ever to compete), the gold medal in the Kyiv Conservatory Competition, and the Poltawa, Ukraine Mykola Lyssenko Competition. After graduation, he moved to Switzerland to study at the Basel Conservatoire with Rudolph Buchbinder. He received top honors at the Geneva Duo Violin and Piano competition and the gold medal in the Piano 80 and Swiss Youth Competition.
Mr. Vitalij formed his first progressive metal band in 1993, Atlantis Rising. In 1995, he was sent to the United States on a recommendation by Sir James Galway to continue his studies at Curtis with Gary Graffman (Piano ’46). Mr. Graffman is quoted as saying, “Vitalij is a powerful, elegant, and communicative artist…an amazing musician.” His band was renamed and refashioned into Artension, which released a series of albums on the Shrapnel label. Kuprij also released several solo albums and also worked with the groups Ring of Fire and the Vivaldi Metal Project.
At Curtis, violinist and faculty member Aaron Rosand (’48) said, “Vitalij Kuprij is one of the outstanding pianists of his generation. His charismatic style, technique, and personality are reminiscent of piano legends of a bygone era. I have not heard Chopin played this well since Rubenstein.”
Throughout his career, Mr. Kuprij was in demand as a soloist, recitalist, pianist, and composer throughout the United States and abroad. He played in many countries worldwide, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the former Soviet Union. He has performed at Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall), and Carnegie Hall and played for two U.S. Presidents and dignitaries across the globe. He was composing his own piano concerto and planned to dedicate the work to the memory of his late father and mentor, a trombone and music theory professor in a conservatory in the Ukraine.
The Curtis community extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Kuprij.
Photos credits: 1.) Mr. Kuprij with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra; Kevin Nixon, Getty Images. 2. & 3.) Courtesy of Spirit of Metal 4.) Courtesy of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s official website. 5.) Courtesy of Jeremy Drey, MediaNews Group, Reading Eagle/Getty Images.