New age pianist/composer Kostia has issued several solo albums thus far, as well as serving as an arranger on other artist's recordings. Born Konstantin Efimov in St. Petersburg, Russia, Kostia was raised by his grandmother, while his parents worked in East Germany. Kostia originally became interested in music at the age of four, when his parents sent him a 1937 Wolkenhauer upright piano. Kostia eventually began formally studying the instrument with the aid of a pair of teachers (later enrolling in the Rimsky/Korsakov Conservatory). The pianist would perform throughout Eastern Europe and Scandinavia before relocating to the United States during the late '80s. Soon after, Kostia signed on with the Narada record label, and issued such solo releases as 1994's Suite St. Petersburg: A Piano Portrait and 1996's 10 Pebbles. 1999 saw Kostia issue a ten-track tribute to pop master Elton John, Kostia's Interpretations of Elton John, issued via the World Disc label. Additionally, Kostia has helped arrange music for other fellow Narada recording artists, including David Arkenstone (1991's In the Wake of the Wind, 1993's Chronicles and Robot Wars, plus 1994's Another Star in the Sky) and Michael Gettel (1992's Places in Time). He also lent his piano skills to the 2000 solo release by longtime Phil Collins/Genesis guitarist Daryl Stuermer, Another Side of Genesis. ~ Greg Prato