A graduate of the Juilliard School, Epstein received international recognition when the conductor, Eugene Ormandy, invited him to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1973.
Before their departure, in an appearance at Saratoga Springs, Epstein gave the American premiere of Yin Chengzong's arrangement of the Yellow River Piano Concerto, one of the works which the Chinese had requested the Americans to play later on tour.
In doing so, Epstein contributed to the first American performance of music from the pen of a Chinese composer working in the Western classical tradition.
[2] On their return from China, Epstein teamed up with Ormandy and the orchestra again to record the concerto on an LP album.
[4] He regularly appears as a guest soloist with symphony orchestras and has collected such honors as the Kosciuszko Chopin Award, the National Arts Club Prize, the Prix Alex de Vries in Paris, and the Concert Artists Guild Award.