Last Friday, March 21, three young violinists from ZBSM’s advanced and professional programs performed with the National Philharmonic of Moldova under the baton of Maestro Mihail Agafița at the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău, the country’s capital.
At the Zakhar Bron School of Music in Zurich, we prepare the next generation of professional soloists—primarily violinists. Performing on stage is a skill that cannot be taught in the classroom alone. Without real stage experience, it’s impossible to grow into a true soloist.
That’s why we provide our students—especially those on the professional violin track—with frequent performance opportunities throughout the school year. These range from small open school concerts held in Zurich churches to major public performances with chamber and symphony orchestras in Switzerland and abroad. Many of these events are advertised in local media, ticketed, and sometimes even broadcast on radio or television.
For any soloist—and especially for a young violinist—performing with a symphony orchestra in front of a large, full audience is always a major source of inspiration. It’s even more intense when you know that, in addition to the hundreds of people in the concert hall, your performance is being broadcast on the radio—reaching thousands, or even tens of thousands, of listeners!
This concert in Moldova was a truly serious event: a large 550-seat hall, a full symphony orchestra, and a live radio broadcast. The performance had to be excellent.
Classical music lovers rarely stop to ask: how long does it take for a musician to prepare for a concert? A week? Two? A month? The answer depends on the musician’s level of professionalism and the difficulty of the program.
Our young violinist Felipe Hauser (15) had the longest preparation time. To perform Mozart’s ‘Concerto in A Major’ flawlessly on stage, he spent an entire academic year getting ready.
In addition to his weekly violin lessons at the Zakhar Bron School of Music, Felipe also took part in several masterclasses held at our school by Esther Hoppe, Professor of Violin at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. A renowned expert in Baroque and Classical style, she played a big role in helping him elevate his interpretation of Mozart’s music.
Finally, as part of his preparation for the big stage, Felipe performed the Mozart concerto several times at open school concerts.
Other young violinists from the school, Kimia Corke (14) and Tatjana Filimonova (12), dedicated three to four months respectively to preparing for the concert. Kimia worked on the famous Mendelsohn’s ‘Concerto in E-minor’ and Sarasate’s ‘Gypsy Airs’, while Tatjana focused on Saint-Saëns’ ‘Rondo Capriccioso’.
The concert took place on Friday evening. Starting Monday, there were three-hour rehearsals with the orchestra every day. In addition to these rehearsals, our young soloists practiced violin for several hours a day—both with their teachers and on their own.
Felipe was the first to take the stage, opening the evening with Mozart’s ‘Concerto in A Major’. A full year of dedicated preparation had clearly paid off—he played with confidence, precision, and beautiful musicality. The audience listened intently and responded with warm, enthusiastic applause, recognizing the maturity of Mozart’s style.
Next came Kimia, who brought Mendelssohn’s ‘Concerto in E Minor’ to life with passion and elegance far beyond her years. Her expressive phrasing and emotional intensity held the audience spellbound.
Tatjana followed with Saint-Saëns’ ‘Rondo Capriccioso’, delivering a bright performance filled with energy and flair.
To close the concert, Kimia returned to the stage for Sarasate’s ‘Gypsy Airs’. Her vibrant, spirited playing ended the evening on a high note, leaving the audience delighted and inspired.
“Performing with an orchestra is a vital part of a professional music education—especially for violinists,” says Liana Tretiakova, founder of the Zakhar Bron School of Music and violin teacher of Felipe and Kimia. “As soon as a child is ready to step onto the stage and perform with an orchestra, we absolutely must give them that opportunity.
But what does it mean to be ready? First and foremost, the child must have a strong character or natural leadership qualities. A full symphony orchestra consists of 80 to 100 musicians. That means the soloist—regardless of age—has to lead with power and inspiration. Of course, the conductor is there to support them. But if the soloist plays without enough clarity, confidence, or presence, the orchestra won’t be able to follow or truly connect with them.”
Inna Khriplovich, Tatjana’s violin teacher, highlighted another key aspect of performing with an orchestra:
“For Tatjana, this experience was especially important because it was her first performance with a symphony orchestra,” says Inna. “Even more importantly, it was her first time playing a piece of this magnitude. Rondo Capriccioso was written for mature musicians—it demands a great deal from the performer: a strong sense of style, refined taste, and a deep understanding of phrasing, among other things. And Tatjana is only twelve!
To prepare properly, we had to work very thoroughly on the details. This performance helped her reach a new level in her playing—and as her teacher, I’m incredibly proud and happy to see that growth!”
Tags: Felipe Hauser, Inna Khriplovich, Kimia Corke, Liana Tretiakova, Tatjana Filimonova
Categories: Concerts with Orchestra
