[2] In 1995, Mr Kuprij was sent to the United States upon recommendation by Sir James Galway to study with pianist Gary Graffman, President and Director of Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

After performing his Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2006, Kuprij was featured in a two-page spread in the New York Times written by arts and entertainment writer Dan Wakin.

[1][9] Vitalij appears on TSO's first EP, Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night), released in 2012, playing piano on "Winter Palace" and "Time You Should be Sleeping".

Vitalij received a writing credit for "King Rurik", a song from Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Letters from the Labyrinth album.

Savatage and Trans Siberian Orchestra vocalist Zak Stevens paid tribute, saying "There is no such thing as replacing a spirit like him".