Nikita Lukinov is a Scotland-based pianist heralded for his “extraordinary breadth and freedom of imagination” by Gramophone, named a “true master of storytelling through music” by The Pianist and called the “Rising Star” by the BBC Music Magazine. He has captivated audiences as a soloist in leading venues across the UK, Europe, Russia and Asia including London’s Wigmore Hall, the Southbank Centre, Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, Barcelona’s Palau de la Música, the Verbier Festival, Fazioli Hall, the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow, Guangzhou Opera House and Shanghai Opera House. His live and studio performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland, and Scala Radio.
During the 2025/26 season, Nikita gives numerous performances across the UK and China. He was awarded 3rd Prize at the Málaga International Piano Competition 2025.
The 2024/25 season marked an important milestone in Nikita’s establishment as one of Scotland’s busiest concert pianists. His 40-concert tour across the country included appearances at major venues such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Inverness Town Hall, St Giles’ Cathedral, Perth Concert Hall, and the St Magnus Festival. Alongside recitals, with the support of the Live Music Now Scotland, he led outreach events in care homes and schools for children with additional support needs, reflecting his strong commitment to musical engagement and community impact. Other highlights included recitals at Bechstein Hall and Armourers’ Hall in London.
A disciple of the Russian Piano School, Nikita began his musical education in Voronezh, Russia, giving his debut as a soloist with a symphony orchestra at the age of ten. He moved to the UK at 14 on a full scholarship to study at The Purcell School with Prof. Tatiana Sarkissova, an alumna of Dmitry Bashkirov. In 2017, he was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Prof. Petras Geniušas, an alumnus of V. Gornostaeva. In 2021, Nikita graduated with First Class Honours and received a full ABRSM scholarship to pursue a Master of Music degree. That year, he was generously supported by the Robert Turnbull Piano Foundation. Since October 2022, he has also taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, becoming the youngest senior teaching staff member across all of the UK’s Royal Schools of Music. In June 2023, he was awarded the Governors’ Recital Prize for the most outstanding final recital at the RCS, and later that year released his debut CD with KNS Classical. He completed his Artist Diploma at the RCS in September 2024. Since 2024 Nikita is an artist of the City Music Foundation.
In recent years, Nikita has performed at venues including Steinway Hall London and Berlin, the National Liberal Club, Hastings International Piano Series, Jorquera Pianos in Barcelona, Girona Town Hall, the British Institute in Florence, and Vaduz Rathaussaal in Liechtenstein. He is also a dedicated artist with Live Music Now Scotland, bringing concerts of international calibre to communities across the country.
Nikita has had masterclasses with maestri Sir András Schiff, Sir Stephen Hough, Kirill Gerstein, Dang Thai Son, Dmitry Bashkirov, Dmitry Alexeev, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Steven Osborne, Klaus Hellwig, Noriko Ogawa, Vladimir Viardo, Claudio Martinez Mehner and others.