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With the support of the www.ajsw.org.uk


Katya Lazareva is an acclaimed violist specialising in solo and chamber repertoire. Born in 1985 in Belarus, Katya began her musical training at the Republican Musical College at the Belarus State Academy of Music with T.P. Bodneva and then with Prof. L.L. Lastovka at the Belarusian State Academy of Music. She moved to London in 2009 graduating at the Royal College of Music led by the Professor of violin and viola, Yuri Zhislin.  


Katya has performed at a number of solo and chamber recitals including at prestige venues Wigmore Hall, King’s Place and the Albert Hall. A member of various London orchestras, such as “London Chamber Players”, “I Maestri”, ”Arcadia Mundi’’, “Firebird” and “Russian Virtuosi of Europe” including as a soloist.....also touring South America with the Russian Virtuosi of Music chamber orchestra in 2012 and China in 2014 with the LACO orchestra. She frequently played as a soloist with the State Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus.


Apart from her public performances of the viola repertoire, she also has a successful teaching practice, enjoying tutoring talented young musicians for a future career in music.


Katya plays a viola made by luthier Luis Claudio Manfio in 2012.

web site: www.katyalazareva.com


Nafis Umerkulova was born in Tashkent and started piano at the age of 5 inspired by her mother, who was also a pianist. A few years later, Nafis became a prize-winner of various piano competitions at home and abroad.


From 2004 Nafis moved to the UK and was awarded full scholarships to the Purcell School, Royal Academy of Music (2006) and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2010). While studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, she was invited to perform Schubert’s Sonata D 958 for the BBC’s documentary about Schubert.


Nafis is a passionate soloist and a chamber musician. Her numerous performances in the UK feature recitals in ​Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, St John’s Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Glasgow City Halls, Manchester Bridgewater Hall, Birmingham Town and Symphony Halls among others. 


In September 2019 Nafis released her debut album “Darkness illuminated’ featuring the music of Alexander Scriabin and his rarely heard contemporary – Alexei Stanchinsky. 


In addition to her performance career, Nafis is dedicated to sharing her experience with younger generations and enjoys teaching very much. She is currently a piano faculty member at the Purcell School and is also working together with her colleagues on their independent Philomel Music Academy.

web site: www.nafisumerkulova.com



The programme: 


“A concert for the New Year"



M. Marais. Old French dances for viola and piano.


F. Schubert. Arpeggione sonata D821 for viola and piano.


F. Bridge. Five pieces for viola and piano. 


B. Bartok. Roumanian folk dances arr. for viola and piano.