Daughters of concert pianist found dead in Texas home alongside stabbed mother

Vadym Kholodenko found Nika, five, and Michaela, one-year-old, slain at his estranged wife's home

Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko found his daughters dead in their bed at their home in Texas (Facebook: Vadym Kholodenko )

A renowned pianist has found his young daughters slain in their beds and his estranged wife suffering multiple stab wounds after he arrived at their home to pick the girls up.

Ukrainian-born Vadym Kholodenko, 29, found Nika, five, and Michaela, one, dead in their bedroom at their home in Fort Worth, Texas, early on Thursday.

Their Russian mother, Sofya Tsygankova, 31, was "in an extreme state of distress" and was rushed to hospital to treat her injuries, which were not life-threatening.

Benbrook Police said Mr Kholodenko, who won the $50,000 prize at the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2013, is not considered a suspect in the investigation.

Police Commander David Babcock said Ms Tsygankova will be held for mental health evaluation once she recovers from her injuries.

He told a news conference that police do not see an immediate threat to the community and are not actively searching for a suspect, but he declined to say whether the stab wounds were self-inflicted.

There were no signs of forced entry into the home and police are investigating the case as a double homicide.

The children's cause of death has not yet been determined.

Mr Kholodenko said in a statement: "The loss of my children will be with me forever. But I would like to say that I feel the support of the Fort Worth community and all people who are sending me messages all over the world,"

"Wherever I go after this tragedy, my heart will stay with the people here of Fort Worth and my daughters will rest in this soil," he added.

Mr Kholodenko cancelled three shows with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra over the weekend but in his statement he asked people going to the orchestra's concerts "to think of the music."

Court records obtained by the local media show the couple married in 2010 but filed a case for divorce in November.

The family moved to Fort Worth in 2014 from Moscow and police were called at their home twice that year but would not disclose the reasons.

Ms Tsygankova told the local press in 2014 their decision to move was linked to the medical problems of their daughter Nika.

"We wanted to be together, with Vadym, to be a family, and for us, maybe it was the only choice for us to come here," she said.

Mr Kholodenko came regularly in the mornings to pick up his children.

"The Cliburn family is mourning the loss of the precious Kholodenko girls. We are heartbroken and offer our prayers to Vadym and all affected by this overwhelming tragedy," said Maggie Estes, a spokeswoman for the Cliburn competition.