Julia Smirnova, violin - Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel

For ICMA 2023 (International Classical Music Award) nominated violinist Julia Smirnova was born in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia and since 2017 has beenstudying at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin, first with ProfessorAntje Weithaas and then later with Professor Stephan Picard. In 2021 Smirnovareceived the DAAD Prize as the best foreign student for exceptional artisticachievement. Julia Smirnova is also a prize winner in numerous internationalcompetitions including the II. Alberto Lysy Violin Competition in Gstaad, the Ibolyka-Gyarfas-Stiftung Violin Competition in Berlin and the III. Vladimir SpivakovInternational Violin Competition in Ufa.

Julia also performs regularly as a chamber musician. In 2022 she released herdebut CD with cellist Konstantin Manaev, “The Songs of our Neighbours”, featuring premier recordings of works by composers Aziza Sadikova and JohannaDoderer. The album was nominated for the Opus Klassik Award 2022 in thecategories “Best Chamber Music Recording“ and “Young Artist of the Year”. As the“New Classic Duo”, the two exceptional musicians dedicate themselves primarily tocontemporary music, which appeals to a wide audience beyond specialist circles. Inthe same year they gave the world premier of the double concerto “Garden ofAnimals” by Gordon Hamilton with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker in a sold outTonhalle Düsseldorf.

Julia Smirnova has been invited to perform at various festivals, including EggenfeldKlassisch, the Klangwerkstatt und Randspiele für Neue Musik in Berlin, theDiaghilev Festival in Perm and the Encuentro de Musica y Academia inSantander. In the summer of 2021 Smirnova participated in the Kronberg AcademyMasterclasses with Professor Pavel Vernikov.

In 2019/20 Julia Smirnova played in the orchestra MusicAeterna, conducted byTeodor Currentzis. Since 2022 she has been a regular guest in the first violins ofthe Berlin Philharmonic, where she has played under the baton of Daniel Harding,Kirill Petrenko, Ivan Fischer and Francois-Xavier Roth. In the same year, Smirnovamade her debut as soloist in the Berliner Philharmonie with the Hauptstadt-Sinfonieorchester.

Julia Smirnova has been part of the Yehudi Menuhin – Live Music Now Foundation since2018. She performs on a violin made by Antonio Gragnani in 1790.