Dr. Edvinas Minkstimas is a Lithuanian-born pianist, composer, and educator based in the United States. Raised in Kaunas, Lithuania, he draws artistic inspiration from Nordic poetry, Baltic mythology, and romantic imagery. He studied under esteemed mentors such as Nikolay Petroff, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Idil Biret, and Jeffrey Swann, with additional composition guidance from Guy Reibel and Vytautas Barkauskas.

Dr. Minkstimas earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School under Jerome Lowenthal and completed an Artist Diploma at the Paris Conservatory with Michel Beroff and Denis Pascal.

A celebrated performer, he has played at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Kennedy Center. His performances are regularly featured on WETA and Mezzo Classical music channel. As a composer, his works include orchestral and chamber music, piano pieces, folk song arrangements, and film soundtrack adaptations.

In 2010, he co-founded the European Academy of Arts in Northern Virginia, where he serves as Founder and Managing Director, offering instruction in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and voice. He also chairs the Piano Department at the Washington Conservatory of Music and is an Artist-in-Residence for the Embassy Series and the Phillips Collection Music Series in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Minkstimas has received numerous accolades, including the Belz-Parker Young Artist Award and First Prize at the Fifth International Ciurlionis Piano Competition. A Steinway Artist, he has served on the boards of international nonprofits, contributing to fundraising initiatives. In 2014, he joined the Liberace Foundation's Advisory Board, where he assists with fundraising and talent adjudication.

Beyond Classical Music

Beyond his musical career, Dr. Minkstimas has a deep passion for world travel, often drawing creative inspiration from diverse cultures and musical traditions. He also has a love for the adrenaline rush he gets from driving American muscle cars when not pursuing his music.

A lifelong fan of 1960s rock, he especially admires Jimi Hendrix, whose groundbreaking artistry he sees as a parallel to classical innovators like Liszt and Rachmaninoff. While his roots are in classical music, he finds energy and inspiration in the raw creativity and improvisation of rock legends.

For a closer look at his work, visit his YouTube channel, which features curated performances and compositions.