Natalia Lomeiko and Friends Playing at CIMF

Natalia Lomeiko and Friends Christchurch International Music Festival 23 February – 6 March, 2011

Christchurch will be the NZ city to visit this February when internationally renowned violinist Natalia Lomeiko is joined by some of the world’s top classical musicians in a series of concerts no music lover can afford to miss. Lomeiko will even donate funds from the concert at the Cathedral on 27 February towards the Christchurch Earthquake Fund.

"I love Christchurch and am looking forward to playing some exciting, inspiring music for the people of this beautiful city. My hope is to raise the spirits of the Christchurch public with music, in the wake of the earthquake,” she says.

Natalia Lomeiko, a Russian born, London based New Zealander, is a household name to Christchurch audiences having won the 2000 Young Musician of the Year Award, the Gold Medal and First Prize in the ‘Premio Paganini’ International Violin Competition in the same year, and First Prize in the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in 2003, plus the Gisborne International Music Competition and Christchurch Concerto Competition. Lord Menuhin even hailed her as “one of the most brilliant of our younger violinists”.

Lomeiko says she is looking forward to bringing her wonderful musical colleagues from Europe and performing together in Christchurch again as it is a city close to her heart. The talented violinist has toured the world and in New Zealand played with orchestras all around the country. However, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra is special, as both her mother and father have played in the orchestra since 1996. Her father plays the double bass and her mother is a violinist.

"This series of concerts will be one of the most exciting for me personally, I hope that this becomes a regular International Chamber Music Event in Christchurch. It is both challenging and inspiring to play the works by some of my favourite composers - Schumann, Brahms and Bruch - and to perform alongside such a remarkable group of musicians. I can't wait to be back in New Zealand again - a dream come true."

In association with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Russian Cultural Centre Trust, Natalia brings together an international group of finest musicians, winners of prestigious prizes and accolades to perform alongside her: Yuri Zhislin – violin, Nicolas Baldeyrou – clarinet, Katia Skanavi – piano and Claudio Bohórquez – cello. (Full biographies below)

Natalia has just been appointed Professor of Violin at the Royal College of Music in London. She hopes to bring as many students to these events as possible and believes playing for these musicians and encouraging a unique listening experience for them will provide invaluable experience for their development.

ENDS

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