Lilya  Zilberstein began to play the piano from the age of five and a year later commenced lessons with Ada Traub at the Gnessin School of Music in Moscow. At fourteen she graduated with distinction and continued her studies with Alexander Satz at the Gnessin Institute, graduating in 1988. By 1985 Zilberstein had won first prize at the Russian Federal Republics’ Competition and was a prizewinner at the Pan-Soviet Competition in Riga, but because the Gnessin Institute was geared to producing teachers rather than performers, she was unable to enter international piano competitions; that privilege was for the students at the Moscow Conservatory. However, when Zilberstein was permitted to compete, she won first prize at the Ferruccio Busoni Int...