Anita May

Considered one of the most prominent figures of contemporary Colombian-Russian pianism, Anita May has forged a singular artistic identity, shaped by the convergence of Russian pianistic tradition and Latin American cultural vitality. Her career reflects a rare synthesis of technical rigor, expressive depth, and visionary leadership that transcends the stage and extends into the educational and cultural spheres.

Introduced to music at the age of three under the guidance of her mother, the renowned pedagogue Natalia Voitsekhovskaia, and her grandmother Anna Voitsekhovskaia, her early training was marked by rigorous discipline and a deeply rooted artistic environment. This process led her to the prestigious Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow, where she studied between 1997 and 2009 under the tutelage of Irina Renova and Elena Ivanova. She later continued her professional training at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, graduating in 2014 under the direction of Stanislav Igolinsky. These years were decisive in consolidating a solid technique and an interpretative vision influenced by the Russian pianistic tradition—traits that now distinguish her style.

Her constant pursuit of excellence took her to South Korea, where she completed postgraduate studies at Yonsei University with Maestro Pyotr Ovtcharov, becoming the first international student to receive the prestigious Global Leader Scholarship & Fellowship.

Anita May’s career as a performer has been supported by significant recognition in international competitions. Among her distinctions are major prizes at Piano Campus in Paris, the Rosario Marciano Competition in Vienna—where she also received special recognition for her interpretation of Russian repertoire—the San José International Piano Competition in California, the Los Angeles Piano Competition, and the Teresa Llacuna Competition in France. These achievements have established her presence as a relevant voice on the international piano scene.

Her concert activity spans Europe, Russia, the United States, and Colombia, where she has performed both as a soloist and in chamber ensembles at highly prestigious venues. A recent milestone in her career was her participation in the opening concert of the 2026 season at the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo, where she performed J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Four Pianos and Liszt’s monumental work Hexameron, alongside the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. This performance reaffirmed her position within both the national and international musical landscape.

At the same time, her commitment to cultural leadership has been central to her trajectory. In 2023, she founded the Anita May Cultural Foundation and created La Casa del Arte in Villavicencio—spaces dedicated to artistic training, creation, and the promotion of new talent. Her work builds a bridge between interpretative excellence and social impact, generating opportunities for musicians in regional contexts.

Since 2025, she has also been involved in the development of the Faculty of Art and Culture at Santo Tomás University in Villavicencio, contributing to the creation of innovative academic initiatives. In addition, her digital presence—particularly through her YouTube channel, created in 2020—has expanded access to music education and brought the world of classical piano closer to new audiences.

Through a multifaceted career, Anita May embodies a contemporary vision of the artist: not only as a high-level performer, but also as a pedagogue and cultural leader committed to the transformation and future of music.