Andrei Gridchuk

Andrei Gridchuk, a phenomenal Russian violinist, was born in Irkutsk. At the age of six, he gave his first solo concert with the Philharmonic Orchestra of his hometown. A year later, he was selected to attend the prestigious Music Special School of the Moscow Conservatory, followed by further studies at the Moscow Conservatory, which provided him with exceptional training. Among his esteemed teachers were Y. Yankelevich, Z. Gilels, B. Belenky, F. Druzinin, and Y. Bashmet, with whom he eventually worked as an assistant for several years. Gridchuk reflects, "Bashmet was undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in my life, not only during our time together at the conservatory but also throughout our years of shared performances in chamber music, solo concerts, and with the Moscow Soloists."

As a member of the Moscow Soloists, Andrei Gridchuk has graced the stages of major concert halls around the world, and his solo career flourished following his victories at two violin competitions: the National Viola Competition of the Soviet Union in 1984 and the International Viola Competition "Maurice Vieux" in Orléans in 1989.

Since 1994, he has held the position of Principal Violin in the Deutsche Oper Berlin Orchestra. Gridchuk is highly sought after as a soloist, collaborating with renowned orchestras including the Orchestre Philharmonic de Radio France, the Moscow Philharmonic, Hamburger Symphoniker, Tschaikovsky Orchestra, Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatskapelle Weimar, English Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, among others. He has had the privilege of working with esteemed conductors such as Y. Bashmet, R. Barshai, R. Chailly, M. Janowsky, R. Koffmann, K. Nagano, N. Pasquet, U. Schirmer, Ch. Thielemann, and K. Penderecki.

In addition to his extensive solo repertoire, Gridchuk is deeply committed to chamber music. He has performed alongside esteemed partners including Y. Bashmet, B. Beresovsky, P. Frank, S. Isserlis, C.-J. Kang, L. Josefowicz, M. Maisky, V. Repin, A. Suwanai, D. Sitkovetsky, V. Tretjakov, and the Borodin Quartet. Gridchuk has been repeatedly invited to prestigious music festivals such as Verbier, Wasa, Tours, Koblenz, and Paris (Louvre). His recordings of the clarinet, viola, and piano trios by M. Bruch and C. Reinecke, featuring R. Tudorache and T. Riolo (Pavane Records), have received widespread acclaim, as have his premiere recordings of N. Roslavets' Sonatas No. 1 & 2 (Le Chant Du Monde).

Andrei Gridchuk performs on a violin crafted by Paolo Antonio Testore in 1750.