Cellist lends her sonorous excellence to Promusica's Spring Season

Russian-born Polina started her education at the prestigious Gnessin’s music schools in Moscow. Upon immigrating to South Africa with her family in 1991, she continued her ’cello studies under Ms Marian Lewin at Pro-Arte. During that time, she won the ATKV-Prelude and Trustbank National Youth competitions, participated in Concerto Festivals, and performed with major orchestras around the country.

Polina continued her music education with Prof. France Springuel in Belgium, Prof. Alexander Ivashkin in the UK, and Prof. Lev Evgrafov in Russia. She was also fortunate to enjoy master classes with Suren Bagratuni and Gary Hoffman.

Upon her return to SA, Polina was chosen to participate, as one of the soloists, in the Young Masters Concert Series with the Cape Philharmonic in 2002. Two years later, she was invited to play in the Rome Festival Orchestra at the Rome Festival in Italy.

The new millennium has also seen her win the ATKV-Forte’s string section twice, in addition to scooping two SAMRO Awards (one in 2004 and the other in 2008). In the latter part of this decade, she made a successful European debut in Italy and Spain.

Polina has been a member of the State Theatre orchestra, during which time she was also a member of the Cellisimo ensemble. More recently, she was a Co-Principal Cello of the Cape Philharmonic.

Since her move back to Johannesburg in 2005, Polina has enjoyed a successful solo and chamber music career. Her recitals have been enjoyed in cities and towns throughout South Africa, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Humansdorp, Grahamstown and Franschhoek.

Festivals such as the ABSA Klein Karoo National Arts Festival in Oudtshoorn, Aardklop National Arts Festival in Potchefstroom, Klein Karoo Klassique Festival in Oudtshoorn, Hilton Arts Festival in Pietermaritzburg, and the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, have all invited Polina to grace their stages.

Polina’s cello was made by the internationally acclaimed South African luthier, Dawne Haddad, who obtained a diploma in violinmaking in Cremona in 1982, where she worked and studied for 13 years, under the illustrious maestro Francesco Bissolotti.

Polish-born Artistic Director and Conductor, Bernard Wozny, whose work took him from Poland to Iran to Belgium, before his immigration to South Africa in 1975, has helmed the Rand Symphony Orchestra for more than 20 years.

The afternoon’s programme:
Ludwig von Beethoven
1770 – 1828: Symphony No. 5, 1st Movement, Allegro con brio
Johannes Brahms
1833 – 1897: Symphony No. 3, 3rd Movement, Poco Allegretto
Pyotr IlyichTchaikovsky
1840 – 1893: Variations on a Rococo Theme for ’Cello and Orchestra (“Fitzhagen Edition”)
Antonin Dvo

Venue: Promusica’s Main Auditorium
Date: September 5, 2010 at 4pm.
The Joburg Promusica Theatre, situated within the Civic Centre at Florida Park, Roodepoort, offers ample free, guarded parking for patrons.