Nafis Umerkilova – Wednesday 28th September 2016 – 7pm
To book, click the link to the Markson Pianos website
Performing Schumann Sonata op 11 in F sharp Minor, Stanchinsky Five Preludes 1907-1912, Brahms Ballades op 10 and Scriabin Sonata no 5
Born in Tashkent Nafis Umerkulova started piano at the age of 5 and commenced her musical studies in Uspensky Specialist Music School when she was 6. Only two years later Nafis made her debut as a soloist after becoming a second prize winner at the Republican Piano Competition in Tashkent. This was followed by a Diploma and a special prize award at the Internatitional B. Dvarionas Piano Competition in Vilnius and the first prize at the Internatitional N. Rubinstein Piano Competition in Paris.
In 2004 Nafis was awarded a full scholarship to continue her musical education in UK at the Purcell School of Music with William Fong. Soon after becoming a prize winner of the Purcell School’s annual Concerto Competition she performed the Grieg Piano Concerto with the orchestra at the Purcell School. Nafis continued her musical career in London, where she was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music with William Fong and Tatiana Sarkissova. In 2008 she won the Edith Steinitz award.
Her numerous performances in UK include solo and chamber music recitals in Wigmore Hall, Drapers Hall, Purcell Room, St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Winchester Cathedral, Glasgow City Halls.
In 2012 Nafis graduated from the Masters degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she was receiving a full scholarship to study with Aaron Shorr. During her studies there she won the prestigious RCS concerto competition, Bamber –Galloway and Webster Prize piano competitions and has performed Prokofiev’s first Piano Concerto in Glasgow City Halls under baton of Christian Kluxen. She has also recorded Schubert’s Sonata D958 for a Schubert Documentary by BBC TWO.
Recent successes include the third prize at the International BRANT Piano Competition in Birmingham as well as concert tour in Slovenia playing in a duo with a cellist Katarina Majcen following the invitation from “Glasbene mladine Slovenije”. This tour featured an evening recital at the Philarharmonia Hall in Ljubljana that was broadcasted on Slovenian radio and television. Last year she moved back to London after becoming a recipient of the Trinity Laban and Arthur Haynes Scholarships, as well as the Hess award run by Help Musicians UK to pursue the Individualised Study Program at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and study with Deniz Gelenbe.
Join us after the concert for a complimentary glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage.