Sophia Kirsanova - Violinist
Latvian violinist Sophia Kirsanova enjoys an international career, having performed across Europe and Australia. Her solo appearances and concert programming have been praised as “always appealing and intriguing,” (CutCommon) and "demonstrating outstanding technique and musicality" (Latvietis).
Sophia's passion is exploring beyond the traditional violin repertoire. She is passionate about new repertoire and commissions. With a particular interest in her cultural heritage, she explores the extraordinary depth of music from her homeland Latvia and its distinctive musical voice since its independence.
In 2024 Sophia received the culture award [Krišjāņa Barona Balva] from the World Federation of Free Latvians (PBLA) and an honorary acknowledgment from the Latvian Association in Australia and New Zealand for the promotion of Latvian composers (2022). She was also invited to perform at the opening of the Latvian Embassy at the National Gallery in Canberra.
Dr Kirsanova currently teaches violin at the University of Melbourne, where she has been a Teaching Associate (since 2021) and Graduate Assistant (2020-21). Sophia also gives international master classes and teaches at her private violin studio.
Sophia actively appears as a soloist and chamber musician in concerts and festivals internationally. Kirsanova is the lead violinist and founder of Melbourne Strings, presenting chamber and orchestra concerts. Sophia has performed as a soloist with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Strings, Collegium Musicum Academy Orchestra (Germany), Sinfonia Concertante (Latvia) and has been a frequent soloist of the Israel Camerata chamber orchestra.
Sophia's orchestral career includes working with world-class conductors, such as Vassily Sinaisky, Zubin Mehta, on tours throughout Europe and Australia. Sophia has held principal, tutti positions, as well as guest concertmaster and leader roles with the Sinfonietta Riga chamber orchestra (2005/6) and Israel Camerata chamber orchestra (2009-18) the Israel Philharmonic, Orchestra Victoria, Nordic Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Darwin Symphony Orchestra, Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra.
Sophia started her musical education at the prominent Emīls Dārziņš' music school in Riga, Latvia. Sophia holds a PhD (Performance) from the University of Melbourne, an Artist Diploma from the Tel Aviv University Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Master's and Bachelor's degrees from The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. To ‘Her musical education has been enhanced through numerous international courses. Among those are masterclasses with Itzhak Perlman, Zakhar Bron, Miriam Fried, Ivry Gitlis, György Pauk, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Christian Tetzlaff, Aurora Master Classes, the Perlman Music Program, Collegium
Musicum (Germany), the Holland Music Sessions.