Her career as in a fairy-tale book: born in Moscow, Olga Scheps had first lessons from her parents when she was four. By the time she had reached age thirteen, she was enrolled in the young talent department of Cologne Musikhochschule and performed her public début one year later at the Tonhalle in Düsseldorf. This was all followed by every pianist’s dream: a multitude of awards, prizes, and scholarships, along with many appearances in renowned music venues. The eminent music critic Joachim Kaiser was more than enthusiastic: “I have never heard Chopin played that way before.” Alfred Brendel, her teacher for several years, remarked that it is “a blessing to hear a pianist who has so much to say and who knows how to captivate an audience.” For Olga Scheps, these goals remain a challenge and an inspiration; her individual flair will certainly enthrall the audience once again on the occasion of her sixth appearance at the Ruhr Piano Festival.