| BIOGRAPHY (short version)

Irina and Maxim have played as a piano duo since 1998. At that time they were both studying in the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory with Elena Richter. After winning third prize at the 2nd All-Russian Open Chamber Ensembles Taneev Competition in 1999, Irina and Maxim began their concert activity. Later Irina and Maxim entered the chamber ensemble class of Alexander Bonduryanskiy, to whom the Duo attributes much of its success. Other competition successes as a Duo soon followed, in Rome (2000, 2nd Prize), Caltanissetta (2003, 1st Prize), Jesenik (2005 1st Prize) and Munich (2005 3rd Prize). Most recently they took 1st Prize at the Dranoff International Two Piano Competition in Miami (2008).

Their extensive tours in recent years have taken them to many parts of Russia, to Europe, Asia and to the United States, performing both as an ensemble and with orchestra.

Rachmaninov’s "Symphonic Dances" was a work of enormous influence on the I’M Duo. They are fascinated by the complex structures and colours of the orchestral repertory, and Maxim has arranged many symphonic pieces for two pianos.

Their discography displays their extraordinary versatility, including music by Rachmaninov, Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Grieg, as well as a CD devoted to symphonic music by Russian and European composers transcribed for two pianos.