Irina Kulikova is a classical guitarist born on December 9, 1982, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She grew up in a family of musicians, with her mother being a pianist and her father a guitarist. At the age of six, Kulikova began playing the guitar under the guidance of her father, who became her first teacher. Kulikova's talent was evident from a young age, and she quickly gained recognition in Kazakhstan. At the age of nine, she won her first competition, the National Competition of Young Musicians in Almaty. She continued to win numerous competitions throughout her childhood and teenage years, including the International Competition for Young Guitarists in Moscow in 1995 and the International Guitar Competition in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic in 1997. In 1998, Kulikova moved to the Netherlands to study at the Rotterdam Conservatory with renowned guitarist and pedagogue, Jorge Oraison. She graduated with honors in 2004 and continued her studies at the Conservatory of Maastricht with Carlo Marchione, where she received her master's degree in 2006. Kulikova's career as a professional musician began to take off in the early 2000s. In 2003, she won first prize at the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, which led to numerous concert engagements in the United States and Canada. She also won first prize at the International Guitar Competition in Havana, Cuba in 2004. Kulikova has since performed in major concert halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. She has collaborated with renowned musicians such as cellist Pieter Wispelwey and violinist Liza Ferschtman. In addition to her solo career, Kulikova is also a member of the Amsterdam Guitar Trio, which she co-founded in 2009 with fellow guitarists Johan Dorrestein and Daan van den Hurk. The trio has released several albums and has performed in major festivals and concert halls throughout Europe. Kulikova's playing is characterized by her technical virtuosity and musical sensitivity. She has a particular affinity for the music of J.S. Bach, which she has recorded extensively. Her recordings of Bach's lute suites and violin sonatas have received critical acclaim and have been praised for their clarity, precision, and emotional depth. Kulikova has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In addition to her competition wins, she was awarded the Dutch Music Prize in 2010, which is the highest honor for a musician in the Netherlands. She was also named a BBC New Generation Artist in 2006, which led to numerous radio and television appearances in the United Kingdom. Despite her success, Kulikova remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She continues to perform and record regularly, and she is also a sought-after teacher and mentor to young guitarists. Her passion for music and her commitment to excellence have made her one of the most respected and admired classical guitarists of her generation.

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