Dunja Lavrova

Biography

Dunja was born in Russia and started violin lessons at the age of 6 with Vera Dobrinina, with whom she continued to study at the Special Music College in St Petersburg. She won a prize at her first competition at the age of 10 and shortly afterwards performed at the St Petersbourg Philharmonia Hall. By the age of 11, Dunja had already toured Germany and Peru, appeared on Peruvian and Russian national television, performed Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with two leading orchestras of St Petersbourg and won a prize at the Schostakovitch Competition in Hannover at which she performed Schostakovitch Violin Concerto. Upon turning 13, she gained a full scholarship to continue her studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School where she initially studied with Natasha Boyarsky and later, Maciej Rakowski with whom she continued tuition right until the end of all her studies. Whilst at school, Dunja played in numerous concerts and festivals in the U.K., France, Germany and Switzerland, performed solo at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, National Gallery and Wigmore Hall, won various prizes and awards, participated in masterclasses with Z.Bron, D.Schwartzberg and M.Rostrapovitch, and led the YMS String Orchestra with which she also performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

Just before accepting a full scholarship at the Royal College of Music, Dunja performed Ravel's "Tzigane" with Kent Sinfonia and won the Hans Romney Prize at the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition for the best competitor under the age of 18. Dunja has won numerous prizes and awards both in and out of the RCM, including The Craxton Fund Award, the Gandar Dower Prize and Orpheus Scholarship. At the age of 18, she was selected by the LSO Panel to participate in the LSO Scheme which enabled her to perform with the orchestra at the Barbican Concert Hall, conducted by V.Gergiev and Sir Colin Davis. She was soon invited to record as part of the orchestra at the Abbey Road Studios.  Before completing the BMus degree at the RCM with first class honours, Dunja won the Derek Butler Prize Award and was selected to represent the RCM at the Award winners' performance at the Wigmore Hall, won the RCM String Competition which also led to a performance at the Wigmore Hall and won the 2nd Prize at the Bromsgrove International Competition which led to a highly acclaimed performance of Mendelssohn Concerto with the English Symphony Orchestra.

Dunja completed the RCM MMus degree course with Distinction and was awarded the prestigious Tagore Gold Medal, which was be presented to her by HRH Prince Charles. Before graduating, Dunja participated in various auditions for high positions in the U.K.'s leading orchestras, including the LPO and BBC SO and was invited for trials with them. With these orchestras she has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican and Bridgewater Hall. Many of these performances were recorded for publishing and broadcasted Live on national Radio.

Dunja has held principal positions in many RCM ensembles and orchestras, leading regularly with distinguished artists including Sir Roger Norrington, John Wilson, Vladimir Ashkenazy, as well as leading the RCM Symphony Orchestra in two highly acclaimed performances of Mahler's Symphony no 9 under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen. She also performed at Cadogan Hall as part of the RCM Rising Stars concert series.

Most recently Dunja has appeared as a special guest at the series of concerts in and around Hamburg, performing solo works by Paganini and Sarasate and toured with The Soloists of the Royal Opera House, leading the violin section. She is currently on trial at The Royal Opera House as Assistant Concertmaster.

In spring 2004 Dunja was awarded the Young Artist of the Year award by the Arts Club and was invited to play a recital the following season. It was at that recital Dunja met a private benefactor who later presented her with a 1914 Pedrazzini violin which she now plays.