Sergei Nakariakov, the Russian born Israeli trumpet player, has established himself as one of the most sought-after trumpet players on the international stage. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, a suave and velvet-toned sound and a deep sensitivity he was named "The Paganini of the trumpet" and "Caruso of the trumpet". He has single-handedly brought the flugelhorn to prominence on the concert platform. He has developed long-standing relationships with many of the world’s most respected leading orchestras, conductors and musicians.
Sergei Nakariakov’s repertoire not only covers the entire range of original literature for the trumpet, but he is constantly expanding it into new areas, always seeking new means of musical expression. His portfolio includes many fascinating transcriptions and commissioned works by Peter Ruzicka, Uri Brener, Enjott Schneider, Fazıl Say, Jörg Widmann and Mikhail Pletnev.
The 2026/27 season sees him appearing at the 40th anniversary concert of the Kölner Philharmonie, at the Kronberg Festival and at the Seoul International Music Festival, as well as with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra in Taiwan. He also performs with the Orchestra Fondazione Arena di Verona, the Dresdner Philharmonie and the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, among others.
Sergei Nakariakov’s past seasons have been marked by a series of high-profile concerts. In addition to the world premiere of Fazıl Say’s Concerto for Two Trumpets, he demonstrated his artistic versatility with concerts in Europe, South Korea, Hong Kong, Argentina, Brazil and Japan. The programs have included the Trumpet Concerto by Fazıl Say as well as Jörg Widmann’s concerto "ad absurdum" and Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major arranged for flugelhorn as well as the "Rococo Variations" by P. I. Tchaikovsky in the arrangement for flugelhorn.
Sergei Nakariakov has performed with many of the world’s most respected conductors including Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Spivakov, Saulius Sondeckis, Christoph Eschenbach, Yuri Temirkanov, Jiří Bělohlávek, Jaap van Zweden, Yuri Bashmet, Sir Neville Marriner, Mikhail Pletnev, Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Kent Nagano, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Hugh Wolff, Ton Koopman as well as great orchestras. Furthermore, he regularly collaborates with many of the world’s leading musicians like Vadim Repin, Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Emmanuel Pahud and Julian Rachlin. With the pianist Maria Meerovitch and his sister, Vera Okhotnikova, has enjoyed a long-standing musical partnership.
Sergei Nakariakov’s discography with Teldec Classics International (Warner) has drawn the most enthusiastic public and critical acclaim and incorporates the most famous original repertoire trumpet as well as numerous arrangements for trumpet and flugelhorn. With Luiza Records Sergei Nakariakov founded his own label and released the double CD "Metamorphosis" with chamber music and orchestral works by Widmann, Schumann and Fauré. 2025 EuroArts released the world-premiere recording of Mikhail Pletnev's Trumpet Concerto with Sergei Nakariakov as soloist. The upcoming project is a dedication to the flugelhorn with arrangements of Mozart and Beethoven.
Born in Gorky, Sergei Nakariakov began to play the piano when he was six years old, but moved on to the trumpet, a change of direction in which he was supported by his father, Mikhail Nakariakov, who has transcribed many classical concerts for the trumpet and created a unique repertoire for his son. He gave him his technical knowledge and helped him to develop still further his exceptional feel for music.
Sergei Nakariakov plays an AR Resonance trumpet as an exclusive artist of the brand, and a flugelhorn by Antoine Courtois, Paris.