Lambert Orkis

Lambert Orkis, known as chamber musician, interpreter of contemporary music, and performer on period instruments, has appeared worldwide with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter since 1988, and performed in recital with cellist Mstislav Rostropovich for more than eleven years. A multi-Grammy nominee, he was awarded Grammy and "Choc de l'année" awards with Ms. Mutter for the Beethoven and Mozart piano and violin sonatas recordings respectively. Solo works have been written for him by George Crumb, Richard Wernick, and James Primosch. Wernick's award-winning Piano Concerto was written for him, the National Symphony Orchestra, and as conductor, Mstislav Rostropovich. He has served as adjudicator for the Kennedy Center Friedheim Awards for composers, Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition for Pianists, and Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition. A founding member of The Kennedy Center Chamber Players, and Smithsonian Institution's Castle Trio (period instruments), he is Principal Keyboard of Washington's National Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Piano at Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance. Mr. Orkis was recently honored with Germany's Cross of the Order of Merit.