Canadian pianist of Ukrainian origin Anastasia Rizikov made her mark on the International arena when- at age sixteen- she won first prize at the Jaén Piano Competition in Spain, becoming the youngest winner in the competition’s 57-year history. Of her playing it was said, quote, "In Jaén we discovered a young, exceptional pianist. Some jurors speak of her as the new Martha Argerich, no less” (RITMO Magazine).

Anastasia was born into a family of artists in Toronto on December 8, 1998. Starting piano studies at age five, Anastasia’s first international victory came at age seven at the Horowitz Competition in Kyiv, where she placed first against musicians twice her age. Since then, she won half a dozen more international adult competitions before turning eighteen.

In 2023, Anastasia toured with French cellist Gautier Capuçon, performing nearly 20 concerts in various French cities, as well as in Luxembourg, Switzerland, the US, and China, leading to her debut at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing in December 2023. 

Since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Anastasia has raised 30 000 euros by giving recitals of Ukrainian repertoire in Canada and France, and continues organizing similar events to help Ukrainians fight for their independence, and to demonstrate Ukraine’s rich culture and unique heritage.

Ms. Rizikov has played at the World’s leading festivals (such as Verbier, Chopin and His Europe, and Festival Chopin Nohant), and has played at such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York, Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, and the Hong Kong City Hall. Her countless performances with orchestras (such as the Kyiv Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, and Granada Symphony) have resulted in a list of over 20 concerti in her repertoire. At sixteen, Anastasia released her first CD with NAXOS records.   

In 2022, Anastasia and French cellist Lisa Strauss co-founded the ensemble Shum (Шум), a piano-cello duo focusing primarily on Eastern-European repertoire. Their first CD with Warner Classics will be released in summer of 2024. 

Adept in English, French, Ukrainian, and Russian, Ms. Rizikov aspires to not only be a thriving concert pianist, but on bringing her Ukrainian heritage to light, with a particular interest in Slavic repertoire. Currently based in France, Anastasia is working towards her Master’s degree at Paris Conservatory under the tutelage of pianist Frank Braley. In 2022, she became a laureate of both the Fondation Banque Populaire and Fondation Gautier Capuçon in France.