I started playing the violin at the age of four. Personally, I do not remember the early stages and only know this through my parents’ account. According to them, when I was just about to turn four, they looked at me and decided that I was old enough to start doing something serious in my life. And somehow, starting violin lessons seemed like the obvious solution!
The next few years I remember as a continuous struggle between my parents, the instrument and me. I had been changing schools and teachers until the age of 10 when I finally started attending my local music school and that is where my relationship with violin and music began in earnest. I was extremely lucky with my teacher then who made it her primary goal to cultivate in me the enjoyment of music making. She gave me extra lessons, frequently put me up to perform in concerts and treated me as an equal, or at least made me feel that way. I stayed with my teacher for three years during which I watched documentaries about the great violinists of the past and went to many concerts, inspired by her example. By that time I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music.
In my teens I went to many masterclasses and played in various chamber groups which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was then that I started to understand how through music one has a chance to communicate beyond language and sometime cultural barriers. Around that time I heard about the legendary professor Natalia Boyarsky who taught at the Royal College of Music. From that moment, studying in London became my dream! I successfully auditioned for a place at the Royal College of Music and eventually moved to London when I was 19 years old. I completed my undergraduate degree with Natalia and my master’s with Radu Blidar.
In November 2015 I got a job working as an assistant violin teacher at the Yehudi Menuhin School. I have been enjoying the chance to work with kids, to help them develop and grow as young musicians since then.
Royal College of Music
London, UK
What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?
I enjoy cooking for myself or others. If I have enough free time and manage to plan ahead I love baking bread. I have a sourdough starter in my fridge and I find the transformation of some flour and water fascinating.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
When I was a teenager I thought about majoring in languages. So I'd probably be a French or Italian teacher now. Not that I know those languages but those are the ones I want to learn.
Anna is a member of the 2020-2021 fellowship.