Julia Smirnova

Awarded at the ICMA (International Classical Music Awards), violinist Julia Smirnova completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, where she initially studied with Antje Weithaas and later with Stephan Picard. From 2023 to 2025 she was Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, working closely with Augustin Dumay.

Since September 2025, Julia has been a member of the Munich Philharmonic, combining her orchestral work with an active career as a soloist and chamber musician.

Passionate about chamber music, she released her debut album The Songs of Our Neighbours in 2022 together with cellist Konstantin Manaev, featuring world premiere recordings of works by Aziza Sadikova and Johanna Doderer. The album was nominated for the Opus Klassik Awards 2022 in the categories “Best Chamber Music Recording” and “Young Artist of the Year.” Together, they form the New Classic Duo, dedicated to exploring a contemporary repertoire that bridges classical and modern sound worlds.

Born in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Russia), she received the DAAD Prize in 2021 as the best international student for outstanding artistic achievements. Julia is the winner of numerous international competitions, including the II Alberto Lysy Competition (Gstaad), the Ibolyka-Gyarfas Foundation Competition (Berlin), and the III Vladimir Spivakov International Competition (Ufa). As a soloist, she has performed with the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie in Mons and the Hauptstadt-Sinfonieorchester at the Berlin Philharmonie.

She has participated in numerous international festivals, including the Flagey Festival (Belgium), hören:sitzendorf, Klangwerkstatt, Romberg Festival, Randspiele Berlin, Encuentro de Música y Academia de Santander, and the Malta International Arts Festival.

Julia Smirnova plays a violin made by Joseph filius Andrea Guarneri (1710).