Julia Sakharova has been hired as the new concertmaster for Orchestra Iowa in Cedar Rapids.
Ms. Sakharova joins the orchestra following an extensive formal audition process, according to an Orchestra Iowa news release.
Originally from Russia, Ms. Sakharova trained in prestigious institutions in the United States and abroad, including Moscow’s Central Special Music School’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Oberlin College. She holds a certificate for orchestral performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School.
Ms. Sakharova is an accomplished solo, chamber, and orchestral musician who currently serves on the violin faculty at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. A dedicated educator, she has conducted master classes at the University of Iowa School of Music, Alabama School of Fine Arts, and Birmingham Southwestern College.
Ms. Sakharova plays an 1819 Rafaelle and Antonio Gagliano violin.
“Julia brings tremendous talent to the Orchestra Iowa stage,” said Maestro Tim Hankewich, “and we’re thrilled to have her. She’s filled in a couple of times as guest concertmaster, so I already know she’s going to be a great fit with our musicians, and our patrons will love her, too. The concertmaster is a critical leadership position that directly affects the sound of the entire string section. The role requires a unique combination of skill, experience, and personality. Julia has those in abundance, and we welcome her enthusiastically.”
Ms. Sakharova has a lifelong connection to Eastern Iowa. As a child in Russia, she performed for some visiting Cedar Rapids Rotary members. Those individuals, impressed with her skill and potential, made it possible for her to travel to the U.S. to receive necessary medical care abd she has continued in close friendship with many of those individuals through the years.
“I’m honored to be welcomed as concertmaster for Orchestra Iowa,” Ms. Sakharova said. “It’s an extraordinary opportunity to join Maestro Hankewich and the incredible musicians of Orchestra Iowa. The personal connections with Eastern Iowa make it all the more meaningful and energizing. I look forward to becoming a part of the community.”
Ms. Sakharova took the stage with Orchestra Iowa for the Feb. 16 Pops Concert, Back to Back: The Music of Elton John and Billy Joel. She next performs with Orchestra Iowa for Masterworks V: Essential Earth at the Paramount Theatre on April 20 and at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on April 21.
Under the direction of Music Director Timothy Hankewich, Orchestra Iowa is launching its second century this season.
