Russian born Inessa Zaretsky is known worldwide for her “masterful and passionate” piano performances (Moscow Times) and for her “free-ranging and thoroughly wrought” compositions (New York Times).

Ms. Zaretsky emerged on the composition scene seven years ago winning four ASAP Composition Awards
and a “Commission USA” Grant from Meet the Composer Foundation.  Her “masterful, expressive and well constructed” cello concerto was premiered by Eugene Moye – principal cellist of the NY City Ballet.  The Baltimore Sun found her to be “a prodigiously gifted composer” for her piece For 3 violins and piano, which
was released on the CD Three Violinists in Concert.  In the Garnett Newspapers it was said that her trio for violin, cello and piano is “immediately engaging and accessible; driving rhythms, broad seamless lyricism, moments of intimate instrumental dialogue and a powerful conclusion”.  The Village Voice said “the best performance of the evening” of her piece for Violin, Soprano, & Piano.  Many prominent musicians and ensembles, such as The Blossom Festival Orchestra in Cleveland, St. Lukes Chamber Ensemble and Lincoln Center Chamber Society 2 in New York,  “Vocal Essence” Ensemble in Minneapolis, Cassat, Pheadrus,
Claring and Miro String Quartets, members of the New York Philharmonic, Orpheus, Boston and Minnesota Orchestras and others have performed her compositions.

As a pianist, Ms. Zaretsky has performed extensively throughout the United States and in Italy, Turkey,
Greece, Israel, Austria, Mexico, Canada and a special Millennium Concert in Havana, Cuba.  In New York,
she has appeared at such venues as Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, Symphony Space, Steinway Hall, and
at Lincoln Center.  Her success on WQXR’s “Young Artists Showcase” has led to repeat appearances and
her live performances have been broadcast on WNYC and on WNPR across the United States.  Ms. Zaretsky has collaborated with Cavani, Cassat and Miro String Quartets.  Known as a master interpreter of Scriabin, Inessa Zaretsky has recorded many of this composer’s works. 

Ms. Zaretsky began her piano training at age six at the Gnesin Music School and went on to the Moscow Conservatory College.  At the age of nine, Inessa Zaretsky was First Prize Winner in the Moscow Young
Artists Piano Competition.  At fourteen, she won the Gnesin School Concerto Competition.  After immigrating
to the United States, she went to Mannes College, where she was the winner of the Mannes Concerto Competition, Joseph Fidelman Competition and, upon graduating, received the Performance Excellence Award.  Ms. Zaretsky is a winner of the Frina Auerbuch International Competition and has been the recipient
of scholarships from Mannes College, Yale, and the EXXON Corporation.

Ms. Zaretsky studied with Richard Goode, completing her Master’s degree in his class at the Mannes College.  She studied chamber music with Felix Galimir, Julius Levine and Claude Frank, and composition with Robert Cuckson.  

Ms. Zaretsky is on the Piano faculty of Mannes College in New York, Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival
in North Carolina and Summertrios Music Festival in Pennsylvania. 

“Fireoptics” – a CD of Ms. Zaretsky’s music for viola (with Kathryn Lockwood, viola and Yousif Sheronick, percussion) has been released earlier this year.