Introducing the performers…

Milena Simović (viola)

Currently serving as principal violist in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Belgrade-born Milena Simović completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Belgrade University’s Faculty of Music and Arts under Professor Maja Jokanovic, with whom she continued studying as a Phd student. She also pursued a Master of Music degree at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, gaining a Distinction as a student of Professor Krzysztof Smietana. At the Guildhall, Milena received coaching from the Belcea Quartet and collaborated with renowned conductors such as Sir Colin Davis, Gustavo Dudamel and James Gaffigan. She also recorded several radio and TV programmes in Serbia, Italy and Brazil.

Milena has taken part in many master classes around the world, working with Sergey Kravchenko, Grigory Zhislin, Pavel Vernikov and David Takeno. She is a “Keshet Eilon” alumna, where she worked with renowned musicians such as Shlomo Mintz, Vadim Gluzman, Ani Schnarch, Haim Taub, Ida Haendel and Hagai Shaham, and performed at concerts in Tel Aviv’s Opera House.

As well as many performances in her native Serbia and Montenegro, Milena has played at concerts halls in Austria, Sweden, Italy, USA, Brazil, Israel and the UK, where she was praised as a “unique talent with wonderful musicality”. She is regular participant in Serbia’s leading music festivals in Serbia, Brazil, Italy and Switzerland.

Milena is grateful for the generous support of the Albert Cooper Music Charitable Trust, the Leverhulme Trust and the Leathersellers Company throughout her studies in London, and for the scholarship she received from the Rotary Club in Belgrade and the Young Talent Award from the government of Serbia.

Olga Sitkovetsky (piano)

Born in Moscow, Olga Sitkovetsky studied piano and concertmaster skills at the College of Music affiliated with Moscow Conservatory, and later at St Petersburg Conservatory. Olga has performed as an accompanist in numerous international violin competitions and has received multiple awards for best accompaniment. She has also participated in international musical academies in France and England, and in summer courses in Italy and France. She has enjoyed collaborations with some of the world’s most distinguished musicians, including Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Mstislav Rostropovich, Ida Haendel, Tim Hugh, and many others.

In 1991, Lord Menuhin invited her to join the staff of the Yehudi Menuhin School as an accompanist. Her work at the School from 1991 to 2000 helped a number of students to win top prizes at major international competitions. Olga now enjoys accompanying these former students, now accomplished musicians in their own right, in tours all over the world.

Olga frequently performs at top venues throughout Europe such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Purcell Room and the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and the Verdi Hall in Milan. In July 1998, Olga made her American debut at the renowned Newport Music Festival in Rhode Island. Two years later, she undertook a number of successful concert tours in China and South Korea. Subsequent years found her performing in some of the most prestigious concert venues in the world including Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, the Salzburg “Mozarteum” and the Vienna Konzerthaus. She has toured extensively in Italy, Belgium, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Olga has various recordings to here credit. She recorded a CD celebrating Lord Menuhin’s 8Oth birthday, and in 1998 was invited by Professor Hu Kun to record a CD of “Favourite Chinese classical violin music” for ASV. She has since recorded with various artists for EMI, Dynamic, Naxos and ASV. She accompanied her son Sasha on his debut CD for EMI Classics in New York.