Ksenija Sidorova

Ksenija Sidorova is the leading ambassador for the classical accordion. Both a unique and charismatic performer, the Latvian accordionist is passionate about showcasing the vast capabilities of her instrument and collaborates regularly with leading composers and musicians. Her repertoire spans from Bach to Piazzolla, from Efrem Podgaits and Václav Trojan to Erkki-Sven Tüür and George Bizet, as well as two new accordion concertos composed especially for her and a multitude of chamber projects. Encouraged to take up the instrument by her grandmother who was steeped in the folk tradition of accordion playing, Sidorova started to play the instrument aged six under the guidance of Marija Gasele in her hometown of Riga. Her quest for more exposure to both classical and contemporary repertoire took her to London, where she became a prize-winning undergraduate at the Royal Academy of Music studying under Owen Murray. In 2012, she became the first International Award winner of the Bryn Terfel Foundation, and in 2015, appeared at the Royal Albert Hall as part of his 50th birthday celebrations alongside Sting. Sidorova has performed with major philharmonic, symphony and chamber orchestras in concert halls across Europe and Asia and with prestigious conductors including Paavo Järvi, Thomas Hengelbrock, Vasily Petrenko, Kristjan Järvi, Michał Nesterowicz and Jan Willem de Vriend. She regularly collaborates with Nemanja Radulovic, Andreas Ottensamer, Miloš Karadaglić, Camille Thomas, and Nicola Benedetti to name a few and often appears at the Ravinia, Cheltenham, Mostly Mozart, Schleswig-Holstein, Gstaad Menuhin, Verbier, and Rheingau music festivals. Released in 2016, Ksenija‘s debut album with Deutsche Grammophon, recorded with the Nuevo Mundo band and the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, is a fascinating take on Carmen and has delighted audiences across the world, winning the 2017 ECHO prize for Instrumentalist of the Year.