Mikhail Gantvarg, Violin

Distinguished violinist,  Director and Distinguished Professor of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, Music Director of the “Saint Petersburg Soloists” Chamber Orchestra (“Soloists of St. Petersburg”).

Mikhail Gantvarg was born in Saint Petersburg (then Leningrad) and started to play violin at the age of six. He made his official debut at age eleven when he performed the Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin and Orchestra with the orchestra of The Saint Petersburg Conservatory. He later joined the high school of the Conservatory for musically gifted children. After graduation, he continued his studies at the Conservatory under Professor Mikhail Vaiman.

After winning a prize in 1967 International Paganini Competition for violinists in Genoa, in 1969 Mikhail Gantvarg became a Laureate of the Russian National Competition. Between 1975 and 1987 Mikhail Gantvarg was the Concertmaster of the Academic Orchestra of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia. In 1987 he founded the chamber orchestra “The Saint Petersburg Soloists” and became its artistic director.

Apart from his work with The Saint Petersburg Soloists, Maestro Gantvarg performs regularly in duet with Irina Rumina on piano, and is a professor of violin at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. He gives regular master classes in Austria and Germany. The Saint Petersburg Soloists, under the direction of Maestro Gantvarg, tour regularly in Germany, Spain, Israel, Korea, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Luxembourg and in the USA.

Maestro Gantvarg’s recordings include over 50 CDs released internationally. Mikhail Gantvarg has also received the appreciation and acclaim of his country, being named an “Honored Artist of Russia”.