Kristine Balanas Explained

Kristīne Balanas (born May 8, 1990)^{[1] [2]} is a Latvian violinist who is a laureate of many international violin competitions.

Early life and education

Balanas received her first violin lessons at the age of seven^[3] with Olita Meldere. She later attended the Emīls Dārziņš Specialist Music School and studied with Romans Šnē.

Balanas studied with Professor György Pauk at the Royal Academy of Music in London for her undergraduate degree, and graduated with a Master of Arts in 2014. From 2014 to 2015, she was an Artist-in-Residence at Buckingham University.

Career

Balanas has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed as a soloist in the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, London Philharmonic, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, EUYO Symphony Orchestra, Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonietta Riga, and Latvian National Orchestra.^[4]

The Guardians Joe Staines ranked Balanas as the best violinist at the Bishopsgate Institute's 2009 J&A Beare Solo Bach competition, characterising her performance as "outstanding" and "wonderful."^[5] The following year she won second place.^[6]

Balanas released a music video in April 2018, of her performing Ysaÿe's "Obsession" from his Second Violin Sonata,^[7] and including her "dressing up as a violin-hurling femme fatale surrounded by ballet dancers," according to The Strad.^[8] In 2020, she released a music video of her performance of Philip Glass' The Baptism.^[9]

Honors and awards

• 2004 and 2008, 1st Prize in the Latvian National Competition for Violinists^[10]
• 2007 12th Kloster Schöntal Violin Competition (1st Prize and 'Virtuoso Prize')^{[11] [12]}
• 2010 J & A Beare International Solo Bach Competition, 2nd place^[10]
• 2011 30th Rudolf Lipizer Violin Competition in Gorizia, Italy, (Fourth prize and best performance of a 20th-century concerto)^[11]
• 2015 Julius Isserlis Scholar, Royal Philharmonic Society^[10]
• 2017 ARD International Music Competition, Third prize, violin^{[13] [14]}
• 2018, elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music^[15]
• 2018 Premio al Talento Joven of the Excelentia Foundation in Madrid, Spain (Winner)^{[16] [17]}

Personal life

Balanas has a younger sister, Margarita, who is a cellist and a brother, Roberts, who is a violinist.^[18]

External links

• KRISTINE BALANAS (official website)
  • News: Moore . Sian . Show-stealing lightbulb explodes and terrifies violinist during serene string recital . ClassicFM.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition ... SENIOR SEMI-FINALISTS . . 2011-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110723045526/http://www.menuhincompetition.org/SENIOR-SEMI-FINALISTS.html . 2011-07-23 . dead .
2. Web site: PROGRAMMA - Eiropas Ziemassvētki . eiropasziemassvetki.lv . Latvian . 2011-02-25.
3. Web site: EMCY's "Stars of Tomorrow" Tour 2009 . . 2009-06-30 . 2011-02-25.
4. News: CHAMBER SERIES - CHANGE OF ARTIST . 21 March 2021 . Faust Chamber Orchestra . October 27, 2016.
5. News: Joe Staines . Bach in Bishopsgate: a tiny festival that punches well above its weight . 18 March 2021 . . 6 March 2010 . en . Of the violinists, I felt that Kristine Balanas was outstanding and seemed the obvious winner of the entire competition [...] the wonderful Balanas.
6. News: Taejun Park wins J.&A. Beare Solo Bach Competition . 18 March 2021 . . 10 March 2010 . en . The second prize of £500 went to 20-year-old Latvian violinist Kristine Balanas.
7. News: Kristine Balanas' video for her performance of Ysaÿe's 'Obsession' . 18 March 2021 . . April 24, 2018.
8. News: Should classical artists embrace music video singles? . 18 March 2021 . . October 22, 2018.
9. News: Violinist Kristine Balanas – Philip Glass 'The Baptism' . 21 March 2021 . The Violin Channel . February 25, 2020.
10. Web site: Kristine Balanas . Royal Philharmonic Society . 18 March 2021 . June 2015.
11. News: Kristine Balanas . 21 March 2021 . medici.tv.
12. News: Kristine Balanas – violin Reinis Zarins – piano . 21 March 2021 . The Dysart Petersham.
13. News: ARD Violin Competition awards no first prize – again . 18 March 2021 . . 7 September 2017 . en . Kristine Balanas (Latvia) taking third.
14. News: Violinist Kristine Balanas – 'Being Prepared for the Unexpected to Happen on Stage' . 21 March 2021 . The Violin Channel . March 20, 2018.
15. Web site: ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC HONOURS ANNOUNCED . Royal Academy of Music . https://web.archive.org/web/20190830124321/https://www.ram.ac.uk/about-us/news/academy-honours-announ . 30 August 2019 . Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) - Awarded to former students who have made a significant contribution to the music profession [...] Kristine Balanas Violin . 20 March 2021 . dead .
16. Web site: Kristine Balanas y Lavard Skou Larsen abren la temporada 20/21 de la Fundación Excelentia . Beckmesser . 20 October 2020 . 18 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101095419/https://www.beckmesser.com/kristine-balanas-y-lavard-skou-larsen-abren-la-temporada-20-21-de-la-fundacion-excelentia/ . 1 November 2020 . es . Kristina Balanas, ganadora del Premio al Talento Joven de esta Fundación.
17. Web site: IV Premio Excelentia a la música clásica en el Auditorio Nacional . Fundación Excelentia . 18 March 2021 . es . 19 May 2018 . – «Jóvenes talentos»: ARTHUR Y LUCAS JUSSEN, y KRISTINA BALANAS.
18. News: Balanas sisters play Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia . 18 March 2021 . . September 27, 2017.