Irina Kulikova
November 20, 2010 | 8 p.m. Saturday
Irina Kulikova was born in Chelyabinsk, the capital of South-Ural, Russia. Under the guidance of her mother – cellist Vinera Kulikova – she started developing her musicianship from the earliest age. At twelve, she was already travelling around Russia and abroad for gala-concerts and festivals. At fourteen, she was included in the book “The Classical Guitar, its evolution, players and personalities since 1800” by Maurice Summerfield.
Ever since this early recognition, Irina has caught the attention of leading guitarists, critics and audiences around the world. She has given concerts in twenty five countries, performing as a soloist, in a variety of ensembles and with a number of orchestra’s.
Kulikova has won numerous awards at prestigious international guitar competitions, culminating with five 1st prizes in 2008: ‘Michele Pittaluga’ (Alessandria, Italy), Guitarra Alhambra’ (Valencia, Spain), ‘Forum Gitarre Wien' (Austria), “International Guitar competition Iserlohn’, (Germany) and 'Scharpach Guitar competition' (The Netherlands).
Between 2008 and 2010, Irina Kulikova was invited for concerts, master classes and adjudication on festivals in 15 different countries. Highlights for 2010 – 2011 will be two new CD-recordings with the Naxos label (including a CD with Russian composers),concert tours in Canada and the USA, and a concert with the State Symphony Orchestra “New Russia” at the VI Moscow International Festival.
Irina Kulikova graduated with distinction at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg (Austria), the Gnessins Academy in Moscow (Russia) and the Conservatoire of Maastricht (The Netherlands).
