Q and A with Marina Chudakova

Leading up to the 13th World Harp Congress this July in Hong Kong, we’re talking with performers for the ever-popular WHC Focus on Youth showcase concerts. Check in each week as we present insights from these talented young artists.

I was born in St. Petersburg in a musical family. Music lessons started very early, but when the question arose of the choice of the instrument, [my] parents met the professor of the conservatory Asya Varosyan, who immediately told us to go to the class of Harp. I studied at a special music school at the Rimsky- Korsakov [conservatory] in the class of Karina Maleeva. Later I went to Moscow to Natalia Shameeva, where I study to this day.

When I come to Hong Kong, I would like to try the harp on which I’ll have to play.

From the harpists I especially like the work of Judy Loman, Natalya Shameeva, Sivan Magen, and Catrin Finch. They are not just good harpists, in my opinion, they are real musicians.

The most memorable performance happened to me in St. Petersburg, there was a concert of my grandfather’s memory, Ravil Martynova. I played a concert [of Gliere] with the orchestra. It was a real pleasure and [exciting], a special atmosphere, despite the fact that I [had played] with the orchestra before. I especially remember my first performance at the Bolshoi Theater as an orchestra artist.

To young harpists I can only advise [to] work hard.

To listen to music, operas, and develop myself constantly.

In my playlist there is a lot of harp music [and some] blues.

After 10 years I hope to play a lot of the harp, as now!

To learn more about the World Harp Congress visit www.worldharpcongress.org.
To register for the 13th World Harp Congress July 7–13 2017 in Hong Kong, visit www.whc2017.org.