Anna Verkholantseva

Equally revered as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral performer, Anna Verkholantseva has established herself as one of the most accomplished harpists worldwide. Born in 1973, Ms. Verkholantseva began her harp studies at the Central Music School with Elena Ilyinskaya in Moscow and continued her education at the Moscow Conservatory with the legendary harpist and teacher, Vera Dulova. Since then, Ms. Verkholantseva has been a consistent prizewinner at international competitions including the prestigious First Prize at the First Moscow International Harp Competition. As a result, Ms. Verkholantseva made her international debut recital at London's Wigmore Hall in 1998, sponsored by the Victor Salvi Foundation.

That same year, Ms. Verkholantseva performed as a soloist with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Sergei Stadler at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. She later appeared as a soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of Radio Estonia in Talinn, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra in Vilnius, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande,chamber orchestras "The Moscow Soloists", "Musica Viva", the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna etc.

An active chamber music collaborator, Ms. Verkholantseva has performed at the Dесember Nights Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow with the renowned violist Yuri Bashmet, with whom she also performed the world premiere of Valeri Kikta's "Sonata for Viola and Harp" in 2003.

Other highlights include critically acclaimed performances with violinist Alexander Trostiansky in London's Covent Garden in Italy and a tour of the United States (in New-York's Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Chicago's Symphony Hall and San Francisco's Herbst Theatre ) sponsored by the Victor Salvi Foundation during the 2000-2001 season.

Ms. Verkholantseva has performed at the opening concerts of the World Harp Congress in Prague (1999) and Geneva (2002). A strong proponent of contemporary music, she has performed the world premieres of Thomas Rajna's "Suite for Violin and Harp" and Valeri Kikta's "Sonata for Violin and Harp" and "Scottish Suite for Two Harps and Orchestra" - all commissioned by Victor Salvi.

Before accepting her present post as Principal Harpist with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Anna Verkholantseva was Principal Harpist of the Moscow State Orchestra of Cinematography, the Russian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Stadttheater in Bielefeld, Germany.

Solo performances included the Orchestra Katowice and at the Katowice Harp Festival (Poland);  the International Harp Festival (Gödollö, Hungary); Europäische Musikwochen Passau, Contemporary Music Festival "Wien Modern" etc.  In addition, Anna also taught masterclasses in Frensham Heights in Surrey (UK),Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Royal College of Music and Trinity College in London(UK).