Yakov Zak

Yakov Izrailevich Zak (Russian: Яков Израилевич Зак, Jiakov Israilevič Sak; Odessa, 20 November [O.S. 7 November] 1913 - Moscow, June 28, 1976) was a Russian pianist and teacher.

Born in Odessa, Zak studied at the Conservatory there with Starkhova and later with Heinrich Neuhaus in Moscow. Having made his debut in 1935, he rose to prominence when he won First Prize and the Mazurka Prize at the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 1937. From 1935 Zak taught at the Moscow Conservatory, becoming a professor in 1947 and being granted a chair in 1965. His pupils include Nikolai Petrov, Valery Afanassiev, and Youri Egorov. In 1966 Yakov Zak was made People's Artist of the USSR.