Biography
London-based violinist Sophia Prodanova comes from a family of musicians and began her studies at the National School of Music and Dance Arts – Plovdiv, Bulgaria. When she was 16 she won a bursary to continue her education at the Yehudi Menuhin School near London. There she studied with Diana Galvydyte and Jenna Sherry and had the chance to work with musicians such as Natasha Boyarsky, Andras Keller, Alina Ibragimova and Carole Cerasi. She is currently studying modern violin at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with David Takeno, baroque violin with Pavlo Beznosiuk, chamber music with Krysia Osostowicz and improvisation with David Dolan. She has participated in masterclasses with Robert Levin, David Waterman on chamber repertoire and with Dorothee Oberlinger and Robert Ehrlich on early music repertoire. Sophia is a founding member of string quartet “Portorius”, as well as the early music ensemble “Apollo’s Cabinet”. Over the last few years Sophia has had the chance to be the leader of the following orchestras and ensembles: Opera Orchestra, Baroque Orchestra, Cantata Project and Musical Orchestra of the Guildhall School, Fidelio Orchestra, Camerata N5, co-leader of Orion Orchestra. Together with Apollo’s Cabinet she is a winner of the Brian Nisbet Early Muic Prize at GSMD and a recipient of the Brighton Early Music Festival Young Ensemble Scheme. In 2019 and 2020 Sophia was part of the Spira Mirabilis project, performing Haydn and Beethoven symphonies with historical instruments. As an improviser she is currently part of a research team including professors from the GSMD and scientists from Imperial College, London and the Tokyo Institute of technology, Japan. She has performed in prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall, Cadogan Hall, Conway Hall in London, the Centre of Fine Arts BOZAR in Brussels and Konzerthaus Berlin. Sophia’s violin was made in 2012 and presented to her by the Bulgarian luthiers Eva and Christo Marino - Cremona/Italy. Her education is generously sponsored by The Guildhall Trust and The Kathleen Trust.
