Yuri Rozum

Rozum developed an interest in philosophy by age fourteen, becoming especially interested in the works of the exiled Nikolai Berdyayev. From there, Rozum became extremely spiritual, leading life as an ascetic and, at the risk of his own freedom, immersing himself in the works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn. In 1975, at the age of twenty-one, Rozum was selected to compete in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Due to political reasons, Soviet authorities denied his visa and almost immediately drafted him into the military where he would be totally separated from performing on piano for eighteen months. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Rozum immediately began performing in Western venues. In 2001, Yuri Rozum was awarded the title People's Artist of Russia by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Polls taken by Russian media place Rozum within that country's list of "Top Ten Classical Musicians in Russia." In 2003, Rozum became the first pianist to perform a recital in the Main Hall of the Russian Federation Government House. Rozum founded the 'Yuri Rozum International Charitable Foundation' in April 2005, as a means of providing scholarships to promising young musicians as well as the promotion of major annual music festivals.

Yuri Rozum studied at Moscow Conservatory. The recorded working language is Russian. Distinctions recorded are People's Artist of the Russian Federation, Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class without swords, Medal "For Labour Valour" and Order of Honour.

• Name — Yuri Rozum • Honorific Suffix — People's Artist of Russia • Native Name — Юрий Александрович Розум • Born — 22 February 1954 • Birthplace — Moscow • Genre — Classical music • Occupation — Pianist • Instrument — Piano • Label — Mediaphon

Yuri Rozum is recorded as having received People's Artist of the Russian Federation, Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class without swords and Medal "For Labour Valour".