He performed as a soloist with multiple orchestras and with conductors including N. Järvi, K. Sanderling, E. Klas. A. Janson, A. Rabinowitsch, O. Danon, N. Debelic, I. Drazinic, A. Nanut, P. Despalj, A. Kolar and others. As chamber musician, he has performed with multiple musicians including Mstislav Rostropovich, Walter Despalj, Fern Raskovic among others.[1] In 1984, he was appointed Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy and Head of the Piano Department[2] at the University of Belgrade (former Yugoslavia). From 1989 to 1992, he was also Dean of the Piano Faculty at the Academy of Arts at the University of Novi Sad.
His students have won a number of prizes at the most prestigious international piano competitions: Brussels (Queen Elisabeth), Vienna (Beethoven), Vevey (Clara Haskil), Cologne (F. Chopin), Epinal, Geneva, Lausanne, Leeds, Munich, Sydney, Vercelli, Washington and others. He has also produced a number of television and radio shows where often his students performed with an exceptionally high standard.
Arbo Valdma has received worldwide praise through his performances at international symposiums and is considered to be one of the greatest piano teachers and pedagogues in the world today.[according to whom?]
