Leokadiya Kashperova

Leokadiya Aleksandrovna Kashperova (; 16 May 1872 – 3 December 1940) was a Russian pianist and Romantic composer. She was the piano teacher of composer Igor Stravinsky. She graduated first in 1893 from the St Petersburg Conservatoire at the culmination of her studies in Anton Rubinstein’s piano class,

Professional musical life Over the following years, she composed works which included a symphony, a piano concerto, choral works, chamber music, piano solos and art-songs.

In 1907 she undertook concert tours, to Berlin and twice to London.

Selected compositions 2 Sonatas for piano & cello Op 1 (in G, op 1 no 1, and in E minor, op 1 no 2) Evening & night chorus a cappella Sredi prirody Songs of Love: 12 Romances soprano and piano

Legacy In January 1910 Kashperova recorded seven piano rolls for the reproducing piano Welte-Mignon, six pieces by Mily Balakirev and one with own piano pieces.

In 2002, while doing his Doctor of Philosophy at Oxford, Graham Griffiths found Kaspherova's name while researching Stravinsky. Soon, she became his main focus of research.

Kashperova's symphony was subsequently published by Boosey & Hawkes. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of her birth day, Boosey & Hawkes released five short video documentaries regarding Graham Griffith's research into and revival of her music. With renewed interest in Kashperova's works, more orchestras have performed her Symphony in B minor, such as: BBC Concert Orchestra (UK Premiere), conducted by Jane Glover in March 2018 Theater Magdeburg (German Premiere), conducted by Anna Skryleva in September 2019 Philharmonisches Orchester Bremerhaven, conducted by Marc Niemann in October 2021 New York Repertory Orchestra (USA Premiere), conducted by David Leibowitz in April 2022 Orchestra of the City, conducted by Chris Hopkins in February 2024 Oakville Symphony Orchestra (Canadian Premiere), conducted by Lorenzo Guggenheim in April 2024 Hochschulsymphonieorchester München, conducted by Marcus Bosch in April 2024 São Paulo Municipal Symphony Orchestra (Brazilian Premiere), conducted by Roberto Minczuk in May/June 2024 Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Raiskin in November 2024 Detroit Symphony Orchestra , conducted by Jader Bignamini in June 2025