She may be living in Russia and learning from some of the world’s best violin instructors, but Linda Gilbert always finds time each year to return to Taree and perform for her hometown.
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The 29-year-old, who is studying her undergraduate diploma at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, will appear at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Taree this Saturday from 7pm to give her Favourite Violin Concerti fundraising recital.
“I'm really glad to bring some more of the great violin concerto repertoire to our Taree audience, as well as feature well-known showpieces by the great Niccolo Paganini and Henryk Wieniawski,” she said.
“I feel it's so essential to give the regional areas of Australia the types of concerts that one would go to see in the major centres like Sydney and Melbourne. It is my privilege to have this opportunity again this year.”
Linda said it brings her great joy to play for the people of the Manning Valley.
“They deserve to hear the best I can offer and I know they are in for a real treat this time.”
The program includes music from a many styles and genres, from Bach to Bruch and Mozart to Sibelius.
“There is something for all ages. I hope more young people attend this year.
“In presenting this diverse program, I want to encourage and inspire them to explore the amazing and very special art of violin.”
Linda will be accompanied by pianist Hank Xiang, a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music who now resides in Russia and is studying at the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory.
For Linda, the concert is an opportunity to not only showcase the results of her hard work in Russia but to raise money to continue her studies.
As a foreigner, she is not eligible for scholarships at the Moscow Conservatory, and her parents are on the aged pension, which means she she needs to fundraise to support her ongoing study expenses at the Conservatory.
She aims to raise $2000 at her Taree concert and by the end of her recital tour needs to have raised a further $4000 to cover the second semester of study.
Anyone wishing to assist Linda can contact her mother, Alison on 0400 855 347 for more details.
Linda will start her fourth year at the Moscow Conservatory in a few weeks time and is also preparing for many international competitions.
“For me, competitions are an essential ingredient to build one's stamina and determination to constantly strive for new heights of artistic vision and perception.”
About Linda
Linda Gilbert was born in 1986 and started her violin studies at the age of six.
By 15, she had been awarded both A.Mus.A (Distinction) and L.Mus.A. diplomas of the Australian Music Examinations Board and was already a major prizewinner in regional and NSW metropolitan music competitions, such as Taree and District Eisteddfod (in 2003 she received the prestigious Roma Liggins Perpetual Scholarship for par excellence in the field of the arts), Sydney Eisteddfod and numerous others.
She made her solo recital debut at the Manning Entertainment Centre in 2006, performing with associate artist, pianist Ilya Zozulya.
Linda moved to Russia in 2008 to undertake tertiary violin studies in Moscow. She initially undertook intensive Russian language study during 2009-2012 through Moscow State University programs and in September 2012 was accepted into the prestigious Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
She will start her fourth year of her undergraduate diploma at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in September and is a student in the class of the world-renowned concert violinist, conductor and professor Maxim Fedotov.
In recent years Linda has been a prizewinner of major interstate Australian competitions (Hobart, Brisbane) and in May this year was awarded second prize at the Euterpe International Music Competition in Italy.
Linda is a seasoned recitalist, performing concerts throughout Australia and Europe. She also enjoys chamber music collaborations both in Australia and overseas. Some of her solo performances have been broadcast both in Australia and overseas.
In early September, Linda will compete in the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Poertshach, Austria and has also been accepted to undertake masterclasses with professor Zakhar Bron in Interlaken, Switzerland.