Irina Chepizhnaya

violinist/Ukraine

Born in Ukraine, Irina began her violin studies at the age of six. Between 1996 and 2009 she became First and top-prizes winner in eleven international and national competitions, including Grand-prix at the International violin competition “Forte-Maestro.” In 2007 her name was chronicled in the State book of Ukraine “The Pride of Nation.” She entered the Music College of the famed Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in 1998, graduating cum laude from the Conservatory in 2007, and receiving postgraduate diploma in 2010 (with Professors Ivanov/violin and Bonduryansky/chamber music). Performing with pianist Elena Kuznetzova, she won First prizes at the 16th International Chamber Music Competition in Thesaloniki, Greece, the International Competition of Slavonic Music in Moscow, Russia (2006), and the 2nd International Chamber Music Competition named after T. Gaydamovich in Magnitogorsk (2009). She participated in summer festivals such as Mozarteum Summeracademie, Holland Music Sessions, “Zeist music days”, in International Master-classes in Weimar, working with Jerusalem and Ysaye Quartets, and eminent violin professors. Irina was selected to join the iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international laureates in 2010 and has since performed with iPalpiti in Los Angeles, Israel, Philadelphia and New York. As a member of “Young Russian Talents” program she tours Russia as a recitalist and gives master classes to gifted children. Named a Soloist with the Moscow Philharmonia in 2010, Irina has performed in major halls throughout Russia, and has appeared as soloist with such renowned orchestras as Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and with Moscow Philharmonic.