Alina Pogostkina
Encyclopedia
Alina Pogostkina is a Russia
n-born German
violinist. The daughter of two professional violinists, Pogostkina began playing the violin at the age of four and quickly showed herself to have exceptional talent. She gave her first concerts at the age of five. In 1992, the family moved to Heidelberg
, Germany, where the eight-year-old Alina and her parents initially had to make a living as street musicians.
Pogostkina has competed with success in several international violin competitions. She won the 1997 Louis Spohr
Competition and in 2005 she won first prize at the Ninth International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
in Helsinki, as well as a special prize for the best interpretation of the Sibelius Violin Concerto
. At the time of her victory in the Sibelius competition, Pogostkina was studying at the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler in Berlin, where she was a student of Antje Weithaas. She currently lives in Berlin
.
Alina Pogostkina has performed with many of the world's major orchestras. At the time of the Sibelius competition she played a modern violin, but currently she plays a Stradivarius from Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
violinist. The daughter of two professional violinists, Pogostkina began playing the violin at the age of four and quickly showed herself to have exceptional talent. She gave her first concerts at the age of five. In 1992, the family moved to Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Germany, where the eight-year-old Alina and her parents initially had to make a living as street musicians.
Pogostkina has competed with success in several international violin competitions. She won the 1997 Louis Spohr
Louis Spohr
Louis Spohr was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Born Ludewig Spohr, he is usually known by the French form of his name. Described by Dorothy Mayer as "The Forgotten Master", Spohr was once as famous as Beethoven. As a violinist, his virtuoso playing was admired by Queen Victoria...
Competition and in 2005 she won first prize at the Ninth International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
The International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, named after Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, is a competition for violinists up to age 30. It is held every five years in Helsinki and is considered to be one of the top 3 most appreciated violin competitions in the world. The first competition...
in Helsinki, as well as a special prize for the best interpretation of the Sibelius Violin Concerto
Violin Concerto (Sibelius)
The Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, was written by Jean Sibelius in 1904.-History:Sibelius originally dedicated the concerto to the noted violinist Willy Burmester, who promised to play the concerto in Berlin...
. At the time of her victory in the Sibelius competition, Pogostkina was studying at the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler in Berlin, where she was a student of Antje Weithaas. She currently lives in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Alina Pogostkina has performed with many of the world's major orchestras. At the time of the Sibelius competition she played a modern violin, but currently she plays a Stradivarius from Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.