Sofia Yakovenko was born in 2003 in the city of Khartsyzsk, located in the Donetsk region. She began studying the violin at the age of four, attending Children’s School of the Arts No. 1 in her hometown of Khartsyzsk. In 2021, she graduated with honors from the Gnessin Moscow Secondary Special Music School (College), studying under the Distinguished Artist of the Russian Federation, Professor Tatiana Berkul. Currently, she is a student at the Moscow State Conservatory named after Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, continuing her studies with the same esteemed professor. In 2019, Sofia won First Prize at the XXVI International Violin Competition named after Andrea Postacchini in Italy. She earned First Prize at the International Youth Violin Competition “DeMYuKS” in Yekaterinburg in 2020, and in the same year, she was awarded the Silver Medal in the V Manhattan International Music Online Competition in the United States. In 2022, she achieved Second Prize at the IV All-Russian Music Competition, and in 2023, she received First Prize at the I All-Russian Music Competition for students of higher music institutions, held at the Moscow Conservatory. Most recently, in 2024, Sofia won First Prize in the V Vienna International Music Competition held in Austria. Sofia is a recipient of the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation scholarship and was a victor in the I Grand National Selection of the Russian National Orchestra in 2021. She maintains an active performance schedule, appearing in concerts and taking part in international music festivals. Since 2022, she has also been a participant in the programs of the Saint Petersburg Music House.

Sofya Yakovenko: Almost since birth, my life has been connected to the violin! My parents initially thought I would learn to play the piano. But to their surprise, despite my young age, I firmly stated that I would play only the violin! They warned me it wouldn’t be easy, but I was unwavering in my decision. In the end, my parents supported me and bought the instrument! I began my lessons at the age of four. I can’t say it was always easy, but I always enjoyed it! My parents never forced me to practice. They always created the conditions and supported me in my creative development.

Saint Petersburg Music House (SPMH): Entering the Moscow Gnessin School of Music was a serious challenge for you, wasn’t it?

Sofya Yakovenko: I was thrilled to study at the Gnessin School! By the time I entered, I was already a winner of international competitions. Throughout my time there, I was surrounded by love, support, and a warm, special attitude. The school has outstanding teachers and administration! My memories of the Gnessin School evoke very fond feelings! I always feel at home there.

SPMH: Did meeting a new teacher and adapting to new study conditions, first at school and now at the conservatory, have a significant impact on your life?

Sofya Yakovenko: Undoubtedly, my life has changed! But my music studies don’t affect my interests and hobbies in any other way, because all my interests and hobbies are somehow connected to music. It always comes first!

SPMH: A student in the classroom and a soloist on stage—are these very different personalities?
Sofya Yakovenko: It’s probably challenging to balance studying at the conservatory with performing on stage. But I try to manage. Throughout my time at the conservatory, I’ve maintained excellent grades! The stage, however, is an entirely different world with different sensations and emotions! It’s where passion, inspiration, and moments of freedom happen. I can’t imagine my life without the stage. It’s the place where I feel I belong and where I feel comfortable.

SPMH: In 2022, you became a participant in the programs of the Saint Petersburg Music House and a finalist in the “River of Talents” project. What opportunities does this collaboration with the Music House offer you?

Sofya Yakovenko: I’m so happy to be part of the Music House programs. “River of Talents” is an amazing project! Collaboration with the Music House means opportunities to take part in projects, concert programs, festivals, and master classes. I consider myself lucky! The Music House is filled with wonderful people who are always ready to help. Through the Music House, I’ve also met talented musicians, and we perform together in its projects!

SPMH: Among your upcoming performances is Evenings in the English Hall on November 13th, where you’ll play Debussy, Saint-Saëns, and Wieniawski in an intimate, chamber setting. What draws you to their music and the compositions you’ll be performing?

Sofya Yakovenko: In this concert, I’ll be presenting one of my all-time favorite programs. Faust by Wieniawski holds a special place in my heart—it’s a piece I’ve dreamed of playing, and I’ll be thrilled to perform it for the audience. Wieniawski is one of my favorite composers; his music and themes resonate deeply with me, especially since he himself was an extraordinary violinist. The program also includes two waltzes by Debussy and Saint-Saëns. It will be very interesting to present these two waltzes by French composers and to showcase just how varied a waltz can be. Debussy’s waltz is sentimental and contemplative, while Saint-Saëns’ Étude en forme de valse, arranged for violin by Eugène Ysaÿe, is light, exuberant, and filled with bright flourishes. As for Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, it’s one of the most popular pieces often played by violinists. The more frequently a piece is performed, the greater the desire to bring something fresh to it, to play it in a way that’s perhaps unusual or uniquely captivating. This music is close to my heart with its lyrical and passionate motives; and though it’s French, it carries hints of Spain. After all, this work was dedicated to the Spanish violinist and composer Pablo de Sarasate.

SPMH: Performing with an orchestra brings an entirely different atmosphere and scale to the compositions. Does this make it a more challenging task for you?

Sofya Yakovenko: Performing with an orchestra is indeed a completely different atmosphere, a different scale! I absolutely love these performances! Perhaps one of my most memorable concerts was my very first performance with an orchestra when I was only six years old. But one of the brightest impressions for me was performing Violin Concerto by Julius Conus with an orchestra on the stage of the State Academic Capella in Saint Petersburg, as part of the “Musical Olympus” International Festival. I was 15 at the time and the youngest participant in the festival! It’s worth noting that this is a rarely performed concerto, but it is incredibly beautiful.

SPMH: Do competitions mean more to you as a way to compete with colleagues or as an opportunity to prove something to yourself?

Sofya Yakovenko: Any competition is a stimulus for personal growth; it’s a gauge of one’s abilities and strengths and, of course, it includes an element of competition. But it’s healthy competition, and it’s only for that specific moment. In everyday life, many of us musicians communicate and support each other. I’ve participated in various competitions, but perhaps the most enjoyable victory was winning the Andrea Postacchini competition in Italy! In category “B,” there were 47 contestants from countries like the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, and others. I won the first prize!

SPMH: Are there moments when you feel the need to take a short break from the violin—just a day or two?

Sofya Yakovenko: I can’t recall ever feeling that I needed to take a break from the violin! We are one and the same! How can you take a break from a part of yourself? I always take my violin with me, even when I’m on vacation!

SPMH: What kind of music do you listen to on a walk, while traveling, or whenever you’re not playing the violin?

Sofya Yakovenko: It’s mostly always classical music. I usually listen to the pieces that are currently part of my repertoire. I try to find unique new recordings, compare them, and analyze each performer’s interpretation: why they chose to play a passage one way instead of another. Different moods call for different music. If I’m feeling a bit sad or sentimental, I enjoy listening to, say, some of Schubert’s vocal cycles, Chopin’s nocturnes, or Rachmaninoff’s lyrical pieces. Thanks to these great composers, there’s music for every taste, to listen to or to perform. I also love opera and ballet, especially if I can attend a live performance. As for non-classical music, sometimes I’m in the mood for rock, like Queen, AC/DC, Muse, or The Beatles—they’re a kind of classic, too.

SPMH: Which contemporary performers make the strongest impression on you?

Sofya Yakovenko: My idols among contemporary performers include Julia Fischer, Clara-Jumi Kang, Renaud Capuçon, and Maxim Vengerov. Apart from their complete mastery of the instrument, I am always in awe of how effortlessly—and almost playfully—they handle challenging passages, making complex pieces seem easy to perceive. For me, energy is also crucial. If a performer (even through video) captures my attention from the first notes, I know I’ll be drawn into their profound interpretation until the end of the piece. I must also mention the exceptional violinist Vadim Repin, with whom I performed a duet accompanied by an orchestra, playing music by Schnittke, as part of the “Stars of EXEED” project.

SPMH: In your opinion, with what can classical music be “mixed” without risking its essence?

Sofya Yakovenko: Personally, I’m a devotee of classical music in all its forms. However, the world today is constantly evolving, with something new being created and invented every day. It’s fascinating to observe these developments. I think classical music can be blended with fashion, painting, and architecture. For example, a performer could be on stage with an artist who, during the performance, paints their impressions of the music and the performance itself. This doesn’t harm the music—instead, it creates a new masterpiece.

Interview by Tatyana Mikhailova