New violin professor at the University of Northern Iowa

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Russian violinist Julia Sakharova has been appointed as assistant professor of instruction in violin at the University of Northern Iowa School of Music. She is also the newly appointed concertmaster of Orchestra Iowa. 

The university said on social media: 

’Prof. Sakharova is… known for her technically thrilling performances and powerful musical voice. We’re so excited for our students to work with her!’

Sakharova is a graduate of Moscow’s Central Special Music School under the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She then moved to the US to study at Oberlin College with Taras Gabora, Almita Vamos and Milan Vitek, and later earned a master’s degree from the Juilliard School studying with Donald Weilerstein. She subsequently received a certificate for orchestral performance from the Manhattan School of Music studying with Glenn Dicterow and Lisa Kim.

Sakharova has performed in prestigious venues including Alice Tully Hall, Steinway Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Library of Congress, as well as festivals including Music Academy of the West, Festival International de Colmar, the Verbier Festival & Academy, Keshet Eilon Violin Mastercourse, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

As an educator, Sakharova also holds a position of visiting instructor in music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and has conducted masterclasses at the University of Iowa School of Music, Alabama School of Fine Arts and Birmingham Southwestern College. She has also taught and appeared on stage at the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Music Mountain Chamber Series, Madeline Island Music Camp and the Femusc Festival in Brazil.

Her residencies include at the Peabody Conservatory, Oberlin College, Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University. Sakharova is the recipient of the 2017 Artist Teacher Award from the American String Teachers Association. Since 2022 she has been a regular guest at the International Glezarova Music Festival in Moscow and conducted online violin masterclasses.