Valeriya Polunina, piano
Russian pianist, Valeriya Polunina, was born into an artistic family in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and began concertizing internationally before she was a teenager. Since making her orchestral debut at the age of 15 with Russia’s renowned BACH Chamber Orchestra, Ms. Polunina has made a graceful transition from child to mature artist, displaying both technical prowess and elegant artistry.
A resident of Moscow, Russia, Ms. Polunina is an Honorable winner of the Russian Performing Arts Scholarship. In 2003, she was a prize-winner at the London International Piano Competition. Her 2008-2009 season began with a First Place victory at the Elizabeth Harper Vaughn Concerto Competition (2009, Tennessee). She is also a winner of the Concerto Competition at Lynn University (Florida) in both 2008 and 2009.
Polunina has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras including the Treasure Coast Symphony, Symphony of the Mountains, and the Lynn Philharmonia. For the past two years she has been collaborating with various conductors including Albert-George Schram, Cornelia Kodkani-Laemmli, and Terence Kirchgessner.
As a chamber music enthusiast, Valeriya has worked as a member of various chamber ensembles. She is a member of the Palm Trio that was a finalist of the 63rd Annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition. Ms. Polunina has participated in numerous music festivals including the International Keyboard Institute and the International Piano Festival at Mannes and Tel-Hai.
Ms. Polunina received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Gnessin’s Academy of Music in Moscow under Marina Drozdova (who is one of few students of Professor Mariya Yudina). She is currently pursuing the master of music degree at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music where she studies with renowned professor, Roberta Rust. In addition to her performing career, Ms. Polunina presently teaches secondary piano class at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music.