Devotion to performance TED KENDALL talks to young violinist Julia Sakharova

In the competitive world of solo violin, the clock is ticking and the pressure is on for young stars born of the new generation to rise above the rest and stake claim to a place amongst the elect.

On 20 March 2006, upon the stage of Steinway Hall, a young contender by the name of Julia Sakharova will be given her first shot at stardom on the highly critical, often cynical, New York City music scene. Last week, the young Russian violinist took time out from what can only be described as a grueling rehearsal schedule to chat over lunch about her upcoming début.

From across the table at the 107 West Restaurant and Café in Washington Heights, Julia Sakharova stared at me intently. Her dark eyes fixed upon my scribbling pen, and I looked up to meet a gaze that was alight with a startling intensity. Wavy brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, and she donned a salmon-colored sweater overlain with a silken lavender scarf, as decorative sequins twinkled in the dim light of the café. Sakharova certainly looked the part of a young starlet, but she spoke with the resolution of a seasoned artist far beyond her twenty-five years.

Sakharova first rose to attention at the tender age of fifteen, when she claimed top prize at the International Competition for Music of Eastern and Central Europe. 'Maestro Vladimir Spivakov was chairman of the jury,' she reflected, slowly stirring her soup, 'and during the awards ceremony, he presented me with his bow -- a gift, which has been very dear me and I cherish it to this day. So far, I have been fortunate in many ways concerning my career. Mostly, I am grateful to my parents for their continuing support and care, because nothing would be possible without them. And also, I am extremely grateful to my husband for his love and understanding. He is truly my best friend.

In recent seasons, Sakharova has added numerous other international competition wins to her resumé, and toured with several first-class orchestras. But her much-anticipated New York recital début could potentially open even more doors for the young performer, and she will join pianist Louis Menendez in a program of Strauss, J S Bach and Tchaikovsky.

'I chose the pieces for this program very carefully, because each of them means something to me on a personal level and evokes certain special memories for me. The repertoire is also of an international character, paralleling my own musical career thus far, which has taken me from Russia throughout Europe and North America.

In addition to the honored repertoire staples on the upcoming program, Sakharova will also unveil the world première of Ampersand by award-winning contemporary composer, Sean Hickey. 'I first became acquainted with Sean's music when I collaborated in the recording of his new record, Left at the Fork in the Road. I decided to commission a piece from him because I believe his music is both interesting and fresh. There are many new composers, but the music is not always very good. I find Sean's music to be very appealing because it possesses a special character that truly speaks to audiences. Also, Ampersand embodies certain Slavic and Eastern European elements, which speak to me culturally.'

Born in the former USSR, Sakharova is the latest addition to a long line of Eastern European talents that have emerged in the last decade. What sets Sakharova apart from others, however, is her devotion to all facets of concert performance, which includes, but is not limited to, the race for solo stardom. 'I enjoy playing just about any branch of classical music, but I must admit that my passion is chamber music and I hope to form a string quartet, while also maintaining my career as a solo performer. At the same time, I also consider the idea of playing in a first-rate orchestra to be a great opportunity.'

Very few top-notch performers today are able to balance successful solo careers with regular ensemble performances. Only two string quartets immediately spring to mind: The Zehetmair Quartet features renowned violinist and conductor Thomas Zehetmair, and of the younger generation, the rising-star Phaedrus String Quartet boasts only one big name -- that of first violinist, Ilya Gringolts.

'It is definitely difficult to achieve this balance,' continued Sakharova, 'but there is something deep within my heart, which is both fulfilled and expressed when I play in a string quartet setting, particularly when all four members "click" with one another. When I was studying at Oberlin, I had a very serious group -- the Erato Quartet -- and with much hard work, dedication and love, we ended up winning several big awards for ensembles. Since that experience, I have become much more aware of my goals as an artist.'

In 2005, Sakharova continued on the road to fulfilling her goals when she was selected as a featured artist for the prestigious Young Artists International Annual Laureates Festival. On extended tour throughout Europe and the United States, she performed several concert programs as a chamber musician, and also worked as a member of the festival orchestra, IPalpiti, led under the direction of esteemed conductor, Eduard Schmieder. 'It was a wonderful experience for me to work with an artist such as Dr Schmieder, and I also truly enjoyed performing with many fine young players from around the world.'

On 22 March, just two days after her upcoming NYC recital début, Sakharova will take the stage once again, this time at the Bosendorfer New York Showroom on 33rd Street, where she will perform both piano trios of Rachmaninov alongside pianist Yung Wook Yoo and cellist Margaret Arnadottir. The concert will serve as an exhibition performance, re-creating the repertoire the trio has recently released on a disc with Tavros Records.

Marveling at the notion that Sakharova is slated to perform an ensemble performance within forty-eight hours of her New York recital début, I just had to request a glimpse at Ms Sakharova's filofax, which rested neatly beside her on the table, never far from reach. My eyes scanned pages upon pages that were packed to the gills with pen-marks and cross-outs. Between rehearsals with her pianist, rehearsals with Sean Hickey, rehearsals with her trio, and carrying a full load of classes at Juilliard (where she is currently finishing out her postgraduate degree), Sakharova's schedule seemed to read like a page out of a self-help book on managing time effectively. Yet despite the overwhelming craze, the precocious young violinist has decidedly taken everything in stride.

'I just feel very lucky to work with so many other serious and dedicated artists,' she added with a quiet smile, 'many of whom I feel very privileged to call my friends.'