Vesna Stefanovich-Gruppman
Encyclopedia
Vesna Stefanovich-Gruppman is a violin and viola professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory (CODARTS), a position she has held since 2006.
Stefanovich was born in Serbia
which was then part of Yugoslavia. She met her future husband, Igor Gruppman, while they were both students at the Moscow Conservatory
.
Vesna Stefanovich’s solo career began when she was still a teenager, receiving First Prize at the Jaroslav Kocián International Violin Competition and becoming the first artist to win the National Violin Competition in her native Yugoslavia six times in a row. By the age of sixteen, she had performed as a soloist with such ensembles as the Munich Chamber Orchestra
, the Moscow Philharmonic and the Prague Philharmonic.
She graduated from the Moscow Central Special School of Music and received her doctorate in performance and pedagogy from the Moscow Conservatoire, where she studied under the legendary teachers Yuri Yankelevich and Igor Bezrodny. Later, she studied with David Oistrakh
.
Vesna Stefanovich-Gruppman also enjoys a pedagogical career. She is head of the Gruppman International Violin Institute and teaches violin and viola at the Rotterdam Conservatory. In 2002, the American String Teachers Association honoured Vesna Stefanovich-Gruppman with the “Colleague Teacher of the Year” award.
Critically acclaimed for her “impeccable taste and beautiful singing tone”, she regularly appears as a soloist and chamber musician. Most recently she has played with the Dallas Symphony, the Edmonton Symphony, Concerto Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
, and in recital at London’s Wigmore Hall and St John’s in Smith Square, Amsterdam’s Hermitage Hall, Kiev’s Philharmonic Hall and the Mozart Hall in Prague.
Her solo and chamber music recordings have won high praise from such international publications as Gramophone Magazine, American Record Guide and Classical Disc Digest. Her recording of the Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra by Malcolm Arnold
(together with her violinist husband Igor Gruppman
) for Koch International won a Grammy Award
.
Vesna joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly after immigrating to the United States. She was living in southern California at the time. Her husband joined the Church not long after her.
Gruppman was a professor at Brigham Young University
and a founding member of the Orchestra at Temple Square
which is currently conducted by her husband Igor.
Stefanovich was born in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
which was then part of Yugoslavia. She met her future husband, Igor Gruppman, while they were both students at the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
.
Vesna Stefanovich’s solo career began when she was still a teenager, receiving First Prize at the Jaroslav Kocián International Violin Competition and becoming the first artist to win the National Violin Competition in her native Yugoslavia six times in a row. By the age of sixteen, she had performed as a soloist with such ensembles as the Munich Chamber Orchestra
Munich Chamber Orchestra
The Munich Chamber Orchestra is a professional chamber orchestra in Munich, Germany, known for programming contemporary music along with the classical repertory.-History:...
, the Moscow Philharmonic and the Prague Philharmonic.
She graduated from the Moscow Central Special School of Music and received her doctorate in performance and pedagogy from the Moscow Conservatoire, where she studied under the legendary teachers Yuri Yankelevich and Igor Bezrodny. Later, she studied with David Oistrakh
David Oistrakh
David Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....
.
Vesna Stefanovich-Gruppman also enjoys a pedagogical career. She is head of the Gruppman International Violin Institute and teaches violin and viola at the Rotterdam Conservatory. In 2002, the American String Teachers Association honoured Vesna Stefanovich-Gruppman with the “Colleague Teacher of the Year” award.
Critically acclaimed for her “impeccable taste and beautiful singing tone”, she regularly appears as a soloist and chamber musician. Most recently she has played with the Dallas Symphony, the Edmonton Symphony, Concerto Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
, and in recital at London’s Wigmore Hall and St John’s in Smith Square, Amsterdam’s Hermitage Hall, Kiev’s Philharmonic Hall and the Mozart Hall in Prague.
Her solo and chamber music recordings have won high praise from such international publications as Gramophone Magazine, American Record Guide and Classical Disc Digest. Her recording of the Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra by Malcolm Arnold
Malcolm Arnold
Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold, CBE was an English composer and symphonist.Malcolm Arnold began his career playing trumpet professionally, but by age thirty his life was devoted to composition. He was ranked with Benjamin Britten as one of the most sought-after composers in Britain...
(together with her violinist husband Igor Gruppman
Igor Gruppman
Igor Gruppman is an American violinist and conductor. He is the Principal Conductor of the Orchestra at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, a position he has held since 2003. In May of 2009, Igor Gruppman was appointed by Valery Gergiev to the position of Music Director of the newly formed...
) for Koch International won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.
Vesna joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly after immigrating to the United States. She was living in southern California at the time. Her husband joined the Church not long after her.
Gruppman was a professor at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and a founding member of the Orchestra at Temple Square
Orchestra at Temple Square
The Orchestra at Temple Square is a 110-member orchestra located in Salt Lake City, UT. The Orchestra was created in 1999 under the direction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of the creative initiative to continually strengthen and...
which is currently conducted by her husband Igor.