Simo Šišević
PIANIST
Simo Šišević is a pianist of searching intellect and fiery inner life, whose voice is unmistakably his own, moving from baroque grace to modernist percussiveness and championing the lesser-known music of his native land along the way.
Critics have called him “a poet of the piano” and praised his mature sensitivity to the style and expressive character of the music and a strongly individual musical personality.
The 2026-27 season brings engagements at Charlton House, St James’s Piccadilly and the Lichfield Festival, alongside concerto appearances with several orchestras, including the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra.
He completed his Master of Arts with distinction at the Royal Academy of Music in the class of Tatiana Sarkissova, and was a Miloš Karadaglić Foundation Scholar for the 2024/25 season. He graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal College of Music, where he studied piano with Gordon Fergus-Thompson and John Byrne, harpsichord with Jane Chapman and fortepiano with Geoffrey Govier, and went on to specialist studies with Boris Berman at the Accademia del Ridotto in Italy.
His orchestral work includes Shostakovich’s First Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Festival Orchestra of KotorArt and the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, performances that drew strong reviews and standing ovations. He made his orchestral debut at seventeen with Mozart’s D-major Concerto. As a recitalist he has performed across Europe, including in Italy, France and Poland, and has appeared at KotorArt, Grad Teatar Budva, Barski Ljetopis, Dani muzike Herceg Novi and Skopsko leto, and at Duke’s Hall, the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, St James’s Piccadilly, St Mary’s Perivale, Europe House and the Austrian Cultural Forum. In 2016 he represented Montenegro at the Festival “Weekend de Clavier Contemporain” at the Frédéric Chopin Conservatoire in Paris.
Šišević champions the music of Vasilije Mokranjac and is a sought-after chamber partner, a regular collaborator of soprano Tamara Rađenović who has also performed alongside Randy Brecker at the “Made in New York” festival.
Simo Šišević was born in Montenegro. He received his first piano lessons at the “Njegoš” school in Bar with Maja Basarab. He is a graduate of the Art School of Music and Ballet in Podgorica, where he studied with the famous Anka Asanović, and was later one of the last students of Vladimir Bochkaryov. Important guidance that shaped his artistry includes working with Dmitry Alexeev, Norma Fisher and Mikhail Voskresensky, to name a few.
An international competition prizewinner, with Absolute Prizes in Rome, Tivat and Windsor amongst others.
“A most talented pianist whose discipline and dedication are resolute. He already possesses the roots of a strong virtuoso technique, and his intellectual curiosity and musicianship inspire sophisticated interpretations.”