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, and in 2007 she graduated from the Conservatory cum laude, where she currently is a postgraduate student, working with Professors Ivanov (violin) and Bonduryansky (chamber music)). As a member of chamber music ensemble in duo with pianist Elena Kuznetzova, she won First prizes at the 16th International Chamber Music Competition in Thesaloniki, Greece, International Competition of Slavonic Music in Moscow, Russia (2006), and The 2nd International Chamber Music Competition named after T. Gaydamovich in Magnitogorsk (2009). Irina participates and performs in Russian and international music festivals. In 2006 she worked with composer Giya Kancheli and premiered his “Twilight” composition at the international music festival “Russian premieres” (Rostov-on-Don, Russia). As a member of "Young Russian Talents" program she is engaged in touring Russia as a recitalist and giving master-classes to gifted children. Irina performs as a soloist, duo and chamber music ensemblist in major halls throughout Russia including the Big and Small Halls of the Moscow Conservatory, Rachmaninov Hall, Glinka Hall, St. Petersburg Philharmony, Organ Hall in Perm, the Sagatov Hall in Kazan, and others. She has appeared as soloist with such renown orchestras as Russian National Orchestra and Moscow Chamber Orchestra (under Maestros Pletnev and Nikolaev), and in October 2010 will debut with Moscow Philharmonic. Irina has received full scholarships and participated in summer festivals such as Holland Music Sessions, “Zeist music days”, in International Master-classes in Weimar, with Jerusalem and Ysaye Quartets, and eminent violin professors. She is a grant- recipient of the “Russian Performing Art” Foundation and the music foundation by Elina Bistrizkaya.
