Mgr.Art Richard Rikkon was born in 1974 in Slovakia, with the musical family. He has played the piano since he was four years old. When he was five, he was awarded the Slovak National Prize. When he was six, he was awarded the first prize of Bartok competition in Hungary and also the special prizes. At that time the Czech – Slovak television made a film about him as a phenomenal child. When he was eight years old, he started studying at conservatory in Zilina (Slovakia) as a special talented student. Richard Rikkon was awarded the prize of the international pianist contest Virtuosi per musica di piano forte. When he was eleven, he had performances at Liszt Academia in Budapest. During the study at conservatory he completed the Master courses of Lazar Bergman and Eugen Indjic. For the conservatory final recital Richard Rikkon performed the Liszt´s concert no.1 Es dur with the symphonic orchestra Musica Yuventa, masterly.

From 1995 to 2000 he was studying at University of Performing Arts in Bratislava, he was a student of the professor Cyril Dianovský, and at the same time he was studying at Conservatoire Superiore in Paris. His teacher was the professor Eugen Indjic who was the world-famous interpreter and the appreciated student of Artur Rubinstein. Richard Rikkon performed his concerts in a lot of country. He often played the piano with renowned orchestras: Orchester De Radio et Television Paris, Concerge bouw – Orchester Amsterdam a Symphonie Orchester Zurich. In 2001 he performed the concert recital tour over the world (Africa, India, Araby, Greece, Canada, USA, etc.). Richard Rikkon has cooperated with operatic singers from Canada and Americae, soloists of Moscow Philharmonic, Italian violinist Salvatore Accardo, Russian violinist Eduard Gratch, Barbara Carter, Joe Curtis Williams, Joana Bell, Miroslav Dvorsky, violinist Dalibor Karvay etc. In 2005 he represented Slovakia at international concert in USA and had a performance at prestige Carnegie hall – Arthur Zangel in New York.

Richard Rikkon became a member of the Canadian-Slovak Chamber in 2005. In 2005 he published his first CD “The Magic piano” which contained world-famous pieces of music arranged by his extraordinary virtuoso style. This record was awarded by the prize “Gold record”. His second CD devoted classical music was awarded by the prize “Gold record”, too. In March 2006 Richard Rikkon was avarded by the prize “Aurel” – the best instrumentalist for pop-music.

Richard Rikon published his third CD which called "Richard Rikkon presents" in september 2006. He cooperated with the most famous Slovak and Czech pop singers and rearranged their popular songs for piano and symphonic orchestra.

The success of this CD made him prepare the megaconcert for piano, symphonic orchestra, rhythmic band and Slovak popular singers. It was for 4 500 visitors, in Bratislava. This Rikkon´s concert was the first concert in Slovakia which merged classic and pop music. Richard Rikkon has shown there was the bridge between many styles of music. He can play the piano all of them.

Richard Rikkon has cooperated with competing singers of the show SuperStar on TV and he has attained publicity and public respect. He demonstrated he played music of many styles - classic, pop, jazz, evergreens, melodies from famous musicals and films. Richard Rikkon represents a musician who invites young people in Slovakia to know and love also classical music.

Richard Rikkon is not only player the piano, he is also a composer and an arranger. His repertory of classical music contains piece of music by Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Tchaikowskij and other famous compositors. He studies and practises music of great pianist Vladimir Horowitz, George Cziffra. Richard Rikkon composes pieces of music, arranges compositions of other musicians, performs chamber music, concerts, improvisations and remarkable transcriptions of famous compositions.

Overview of piano´s contests and concerts:

Richard Rikkon and the most frequently questions:

What is your life credo?
We have got a lot of presents from God but we have to work on ourselves, too. I still explore new things, self-improve, observe relationships, try to walk with opened eyes and I bring it to music. It is true, I recognize a lot of new people but I must understand myself. It is very important. If man understands oneself, he knows where he aims. I am inspired if I can discover new and new dimensions. And that is endless...
From the point of ego: Everybody is replaceable. Man should elevate his own prominence. There is a place for a humility in music. So I can feel a pleasure of the musical creation and I am happy.

What is your hobby?
Music, then music, and also music... Really, if I do not play the piano for performances, I do practice some new pieces of music, or I listen to music. I either listen to live music or recorded music. Of course, I enjoy good meal and pleasant companions.

Which celebrities did influence your career?
J.S. Bach, F. Liszt and pianists V. Horowitz, G. Cziffra, L. Berman and A. Rubinstein. I admire what they mastered and how they did it. Pianists, who lived a few century ago, had hard conditions. They had to play the piano really excelent. No mass media helped them to achieve their popularity.

What is your the most favourite place?
When I study at Conservatoire Superiore in Paris, I lived there. It is true, Paris is the centre of art. France is a very culture country historically. There are more than 20 concerts per one day in Paris. I visited more performances every evening. I loved to do to Théatre des Champs Elysées, Pleyel hall, where the famous musicians like Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich, Salvatore Accardo performanced. We acquainted each other. I love Paris, I like come back there. I have a lot of friends there, but I feel at home in Slovakia.

Which languages can you speak?
French, German, Russian, Francúzsky, Hungarian and little bit English.

Many people liked how your piano followed pop singers of the competition Superstar on TV. Your only playing the piano sounded so fully and it substituted all of the band. Did you have it all written down on the music sheet?
I had just basic things. It means the main theme and the basic harmony. I created the full version during the rehearsal with singers and also during the live TV transmission, like a piano improvisation. Some songs sound well with piano, for example songs by Elton John or George Michael. Rock songs are more difficult for sole piano. I had to add more tones for the piano and played the keys of piano instead of drums and guitars.

You have prepared for your piano career since your 4 years. Have you desired to be anyone else from a pianist?
I think, no, I haven´t. I started to play the piano when I was 4 years old and I won my first contest when I was 5. One year later I attended to my first international contest where I met pianists who were old and talented similarly to me. It was the challenge for me and I fell in love with the piano. I am still in love with it.

How is it possible to discover a music talent in a little child? What about you?
As I grew up in the musical family, I listened to music permanently. I was fascinated not only folk, jazz, dance and pop music. I was charmed with the classical music, too. I could say, I lived by music. Then I had the first piano lesson with my first teacher Ms Katarina Szucsova, who prepared my father to his exams - my father was a professional musician. The teacher tested me and told: "This little boy has the rhythm, ear, intonation and he has to learn music because he is very talented." And she started to teach me.

Have you been supported by your parents?
The parent´s support is very important when children are small. I think, I couldn´t have master it without their help. I am very gratefull and proud ot them.

Do you have a dream which hasn´t come true?
Yes, I do. Dreams are for dreaming, not for talking about them. I have a lot of dreams.

What does make laugh you the most? What is your relaxation?
I like a good joke or comedy. I relax near a lake and sea. I walk a forest and around the castle.

What special present did you give and get?
I think, I got from God my musical talent. If I give my CD to somebody, I feel I give a part of myself.

What does mean the stardom for you? Has it changed your life?
Of course, it has. My stardom and appreciation mean for me that I do right what I do. I devote myself to piano, I practice a lot and I perform. I feel the music is my life mission.

What dou you mean about young people a their connection to classical music?
Well, some young people like classic. I think, it is necessary to help all of them to understand the classic because classical music can express all human feelings and emotions. I try to show them the way. Let´s confess, if the classic wasn´t , the pop music wouldn´t evolve.