Birth

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1992 in Mexico City, Mexico

 

Dana Zemtsov is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for herself as a violist. Born on 27th October 1992 in Nijmegen, Netherlands, Dana was raised in a family of musicians. Her father, Mikhail Zemtsov, is a renowned violist, while her mother, Julia Dinerstein, is a pianist. Her grandfather, Yuri Bashmet, is also a famous violist. Growing up in such a musical family, it was only natural for Dana to develop an interest in music. Dana started playing the violin at the age of four, but she later switched to the viola at the age of nine. She studied at the Sweelinck Academy of Music in Amsterdam, where she was taught by Marjolein Dispa. She later joined the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she studied under the tutelage of Nobuko Imai. Dana also attended masterclasses with renowned violists such as Yuri Bashmet, Tabea Zimmermann, and Kim Kashkashian. Dana's talent as a violist was evident from a young age. She won her first competition at the age of ten, and she went on to win several other competitions throughout her career. In 2007, she won the first prize at the Prinses Christina Competition, and in 2008, she won the first prize at the International Viola Competition in Kloster Schöntal, Germany. In 2010, she won the first prize at the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria. Dana's career as a professional violist took off when she won the prestigious Dutch Music Prize in 2014. The Dutch Music Prize is the highest honor that can be awarded to a musician in the Netherlands, and it is only awarded once every four years. The prize comes with a cash award of €75,000, which Dana used to fund her studies and her career. Since winning the Dutch Music Prize, Dana has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls. She has performed with orchestras such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Moscow Soloists. She has also performed at festivals such as the Verbier Festival, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and the Gstaad Menuhin Festival. One of the highlights of Dana's career was her performance of the Walton Viola Concerto with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016. The performance was conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and it received rave reviews from critics. The Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad described Dana's performance as "a revelation," while the British newspaper The Guardian praised her "rich, dark tone and impeccable technique." Dana is also a passionate chamber musician, and she has performed with some of the world's most renowned chamber ensembles. She is a member of the Zemtsov Viola Quartet, which consists of her father, Mikhail Zemtsov, and her two siblings, Daniil and Julia. The quartet has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Wigmore Hall in London. In addition to her performing career, Dana is also a dedicated teacher. She is a professor of viola at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she teaches a new generation of violists. She is also a regular guest teacher at the International Summer Academy in Nice, France. Dana's talent as a violist has been recognized by her peers and by the music industry. In addition to the Dutch Music Prize, she has won several other awards, including the Kersjes Prize, the Grachtenfestival Prize, and the Philip Morris Arts Prize. She was also nominated for the Edison Classical Music Award in 2017.

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