Rod Schejtman
Argentine composer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maestro Rod Schejtman is an Argentine-American symphonic composer, pianist, engineer, and educator. He is the founder of The Piano Encyclopedia,[1] known for developing a methodology to teach improvisation, composition, and ear training, and for integrating classical symphonic forms with cinematic language.[2]
Rod Schejtman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rod Schejtman Argentina |
| Origin | Argentina |
| Genres | Classical, cinematic music |
| Occupations | Composer, pianist, educator |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Website | Official website |
Career
In 2005, Schejtman launched The Piano Encyclopedia,[1] establishing a global digital platform for piano education and introducing The Logic Behind Music, a system designed to dismantle the myth of innate talent and enable any student to improvise, compose, and play by ear through logical analysis rather than memorization.[3] The methodology has reached over 250,000 students in 75 countries.[1]
In 2023, after a two-year selection process involving 32 countries and more than 60 institutions—including Steinway & Sons, Bechstein, and the New York Philharmonic—Schejtman was awarded the title of global laureate at the WorldVision Composers Contest in Vienna.[4][5][6][7] This event is widely referred to as the "World Cup of Classical Music".[6][4] During the competition, he composed three full-scale symphonic works, and his piece Luce Nell'Oscurità was broadcast nationally in Argentina by Radio Nacional after the Vienna ceremony.[6] The event and his award received coverage in major media outlets.[8][9][10]
Schejtman has performed internationally, including at the Musilosophy Festival in Rome and Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona.[6][11] His works have been presented on Radio FM 104.5 and Antena 3 TV, and in concerts for diplomatic audiences.[12]
In 2024, Schejtman was selected by Lalo Schifrin—composer of the Mission: Impossible theme, six-time Grammy Award winner, and Honorary Oscar recipient—to co-author Long Live Freedom (Viva la Libertad), a full-length symphony dedicated to Argentina. The premiere took place in Buenos Aires, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra under Emmanuel Siffert.[13] The work was broadcast nationwide by Public Television and Radio Nacional.[14][15] Long Live Freedom was subsequently declared a Work of Cultural Interest by the Government of Argentina.[15][16][17] The work and its message have been widely covered by national and international press.[2][18][19][20][21][22][23][12] The world tour of Long Live Freedom includes performances in Los Angeles, Paris, and other capitals. The concert program features selections from Lalo Schifrin’s legendary film scores—including Mission: Impossible— alongside Maestro Rod Schejtman’s award-winning symphonic works from the Vienna WorldVision Composers Contest.[24]
In 2025, Schejtman was named Corresponding Member of the Bach Society, becoming the first Argentine to receive this distinction since the Society's founding in 1917. The board cited his "outstanding qualities as a pianist, composer, and musician," and recognized him as "a key figure in contemporary classical music."[14][15][17]