Nazrin Rashidova

Soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and orchestral director, Nazrin's musical acumen is creating a unique place for her in the music world.
Marking her Wigmore Hall debut in 2013 to critical acclaim, the violin virtuoso made her solo debut at the age of three in one of the most prestigious palaces in Baku. Just half a year later, she performed in the Anglo-American University in Cairo. At the same time, she was already appearing with orchestras in the Egyptian Capital. She was an experienced international performer by the time the Cairo Opera House awarded her a Gold Medal after an exceptional solo recital as a six-year-old. And establishing FeMusa in summer 2008 - Britain’s first female chamber orchestra since the 1950’s, is merely the latest string to an already accomplished bow.  Nazrin was accepted to The Purcell School of Music in 1995 and was the first pupil in the history of the school to have played on a 1/4 size violin gifted to the school by the Royal family, previously belonging to one of HRH The Prince of Walesʼ sons.   In 1998, Nazrin became the youngest semi-finalist (aged ten) in the history of the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition and was invited by Lord Menuhin to open the Gala concert of the Competition. Later on, she was a participant and prizewinner of several international competitions and festivals including, Henri Wieniawski in Poland, Tunbridge Wells in Kent, and the Queen Elisabeth in Belgium.   In 2003, Nazrin was exceptionally accepted to The Royal Academy of Music at the age of 15, and graduated in 2009 with a Master of Music Degree, Diploma and Regency Award for Notable Achievement.  During her studies at the Academy and the Purcell School, Nazrin studied with renowned professors,  Erich Gruenberg OBE, Felix Andrievsky, Lydia Mordkovich and she has also performed in masterclasses for Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Maxim Vengerov, Lewis Kaplan and Sylvia Rosenberg.
Nazrin has had the opportunity to play on a very valuable and rare collection of violins by the great violin maker, Antonio Stradivari, and she was also the first student in the history of the Royal Academy of Music, to be lent the '1707 Castelbarco' violin for a long-term period of two years.  To find out more, click HERE.
Nazrin's most notable appearances have included performing for HRH The Prince of Wales on two occasions; at Buckingham Palace in 1995 and a private recital at St. James’ Palace in 2000. She has also had the privilege of performing for the late President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev in Cairo, Baku and London. In 2001, Nazrin played for HM The Queen of Jordan during a charity concert in aid of MAIC in London.   She has also given numerous concerts and recitals in the U.S.A, Denmark, France, Germany,  Poland, Egypt, Oman, Japan and in London at the Barbican, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Kings Place, Guildhall, St. Martin-in-the–Fields, Cadogan Hall, St John’s Smith Square and Westminster Central Hall.  Nazrin's extensive repertoire encompasses almost 40 Concertos and over 300 Chamber and Virtuoso works.  Nazrin’s debut CD, recorded with pianist, Roderick Chadwick, was released in 2013 on the Naxos label and was hailed by the Strad and Gramophone Magazines. A second  CD,  of  Azerbaijani music was  launched  in  King’s  Place  in  March  2014, comprising  a  collection  of hits/songs  by  20th  century  Azerbaijani  composer,  Tofiq  Guliyev, newly arranged for violin and guitar, by herself and guitarist, Stanislav Hvartchilkov. .She recorded a Moszkowski album with pianist, Daniel Grimwood, which was released on Naxos in December 2015.  Nazrin is  to release another album of brand new arrangements/transcriptions of classic repertoire on First Hand Records in Autumn 2016.
Based in London,  FeMusa has been featured on BBC World News, LondonLive and they have given numerous concerts in London, performed on ‘Omani Woman’s Day’ at the Royal Opera House Muscat in Oman, in Baku, Azerbaijan and in Paris.   Between 2011 and 2015, Nazrin was selected as a Cultural Ambassador for BP , having performed for them at various major events, including the London Olympics (2012), the ‘20th Caspian Oil and Gas’ Exhibition and in the ‘Contract of the Century’ celebrations in Azerbaijan.  She now plays on a violin after G.B Guadagnini Milan 1753 'Straus' (Royal Academy of Music Collection) by David Rattray, London 2009 and with an 1890 Lamy bow, generously gifted to her by James Smillie.