Christophor MIROSHNIKOV (Russia/Greece)

Praised for his “musical sensitivity and craftsmanship”, cellist Christophor Miroshnikov was named a 2004 ECHO “Rising Star”. As a part of the ECHO (European Concert Hall Organization) he has given recitals at such celebrated venues in Europe as Wigmore Hall in London, Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles, Cite de la Musique de Paris, Megaron Athens Concert Hall, Cologne Philharmonie as well as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. He has won top prizes at National and International competitions.

Mr. Miroshnikov’s playing has been heard and received with high acclaim by Maestros Vladimir Fedoseyev, Zubin Mehta, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Sir Neville Marriner. In 2006 he performed with the Tokyo and Nagoya Philharmonic orchestras under baton of Maestro Fedoseyev in Japan. In the season of 2007 Mr. Miroshnikov had a pleasure of working with Maestro Fedoseyev again in Moscow and on the UK tour with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra. Later that year he collaborated with Maestro Christopher Warren-Green and La Camerata Chamber Orchestra in Athens. Christophor’s recent performances include his appearances with the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra under batons of Maestro Enrique Batiz and Alondra de la Parra; recitals and concerts with orchestra in Lithuania, Montenegro, Greece and the US. In the summer of 2010 he is scheduled to make his debut at the Colmar Festival organized by Vladimir Spivakov.

At the age of 5, Christophor was presented to the violinist Leonid Kogan. Following the great Maestro’s suggestion, he started studying cello with Prof. Nikolai Polupan. At 16 he was the youngest prize winner at the XIVth Young Artists International Competition in Hungary. Mr. Miroshnikov quickly earned recognition as he continued his education under the auspices of Prof. Natalia Shakhovskaya at the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory while performing a number of solo concerts and appearing at the festivals that included concert halls of Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Greece, Hungary, and the United States. He also made numerous Television and Radio appearances throughout Russia, Holland, France, Italy, and Greece.

An indicative of Christophor’s playing is a comment from one of the critics after his concert tour in France “...Christophor Miroshnikov, despite his youth, has amazing technical and interpretive abilities...” and Nathaniel Rosen after hearing Christophor’s performance of Prokofiev’s Symphony Concerto simply said: “Great variety and great courage!”.

Mr. Miroshnikov’s interest in 20th century music was expressed in premiering Sonata for Cello Solo, written for him by Russian-American composer Lera Auerbach, in the Megaron Athens Concert Hall. Christophor was also the first performer of works by noted Greek composers such as N. Piperis and D. Arivas. He recorded works for cello and piano by Russian-American composer M. Zelenaia, and participated in a concert series devoted to the works of contemporary Romanian and Moldovan composers.

In 2000, earning his Artist Diploma with Prof. Andor Toth at the Oberlin Conservatory in the United States, Christophor was granted the use of a David Caron cello after winning the Virtu Foundation Competition. Two years later he was awarded with an honorary bow that was made especially for him by the famed German bow-maker Rudolf Neudörfer. Mr. Miroshnikov currently plays a Guadagnini cello.