Julia Sakharova

Julia Sakharova (Russian: Юлия Сахарова; born c. 1980^[1][2][3] in Moldova^[4]) is a professional violinist. A native of Zheleznovodsk, Russia,^[2][3][5] she debuted at the age of eight with the Moldova Symphony Orchestra.^[4][6] Her mother is also a musician.^[7] By the age of 11, she was already internationally known as a child prodigy due to her skills on the violin.^[7][8] At the age of 15, she won the top prize in the International Competition for Music of Eastern and Central Europe; Vladimir Spivakov, the head of the jury, presented her with his bow in addition to the prize.^[9] She attended Oberlin College,^[10] graduating in 2003 with a major in violin performance; she studied under Milan Vitek while there.^{[2][3][5][11]} That same year, she competed in the Concours International de Montréal des Jeunesses Musicales,^[12] and won sixth prize.^[13] In 2005, she visited Caracas, Venezuela to perform with the National Philharmonic Orchestra there.^[4][6][14] She was Assistant Concertmaster of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2012.^[10] In 2012, Sakharova joined the Arianna String Quartet which is on Residence at the University of Missouri St. Louis.^{[4][6][10][15]} She is part of the Music Faculty as Associate Professor of Violin.^[16][17][18] In 2024, Sakharova was appointed Concertmaster with Orchestra Iowa.^[10]

Sakharova uses a violin that was made by Rafaelle and Antonio Gagliano in Naples in 1819.^[1][17]

Education

Graduated from Moscow's Central Special Music School.^[17] Graduated from Oberlin College in 2003, studying with Taras Gabora, Almita Vamos and Milan Vitek.^[11] Received a master's degree from the Juilliard School in 2006, studying with Donald Weilerstein.^[19]

Discography

• 2001 — Rachmaninoff: The Élégiaque Piano Trios (Tavros Records) — with cellist Margrét Arnadóttir and pianist Yung Wook Yoo^[20][21]
• 2015 — Beethoven: The Early String Quartets, Opus 18 (Centaur Records) — as part of the Arianna String Quartet^[22]
• 2017 — Beethoven: The Middle Quartets (Centaur Records) — as part of the Arianna String Quartet^[23]
• 2023 — Beethoven: The Late Quartets (Centaur Records) — as part of the Arianna String Quartet^[18][24]