ANDREA GAJIC
VIOLIN/CONDUCTOR
Violinist Andrea Gajic received her early musical training at St Mary’s Specialist Music School, Edinburgh. When she was twelve, she performed the Bruch Scottish Fantasy at St James’ Palace, London for Yehudi Menuhin’s 60th Birthday celebration. Two years later, she was invited by Sylvia Rosenberg to study at the Peabody Institute, Baltimore USA, where she won first prize at the American String Teachers’ Association Violin Competition.
​
From 1990, Andrea studied for five years at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow with Khalida Akhtiamova where she gained her Masters Degree and Diploma in Solo Performance, before continuing her post-graduate studies with Felix Andrievsky at The Royal College of Music in London.
​
Throughout her studies, Andrea has received generous financial assistance, being the youngest recipient of The Scottish International Education Trust and also receiving awards from The Martin Trust and Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarships.
​
Andrea has performed as a soloist and chamber ensemble player in Britain, United States, Russia, Lithuania, Finland, Germany, Australia, Yugoslavia and France, and she has been invited to give recitals and Masterclasses in Serbia, at the Victoria International Arts Festival, Gozo, at Dartington International Music Festival, and at the Menstrelle International Chamber Music Academy, St Petersburg.
​
Her freelance work includes performing with husband Djordje Gajic on accordion as duo AdLibitum. She has also led the Fibonacci Sequence chamber ensemble at the Conway Hall in London and worked with the Research Ensemble, which resulted in a number of contemporary music performances including birthday celebrations for Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and James MacMillan. In April 2013 she gave a recital of Beethoven Sonatas in the Max-Joseph-Saal at the Munich Residenz with pianist Michael Leslie.
​
For radio, she has recorded for BBC Radio, Bavarian Radio, Lithuanian Radio, Yugoslavian Radio and Radio Baltimore. On television, she has appeared on BBC, STV, ITV, and on Russian and Yugoslavian stations. CD releases include a recording of Beethoven’s Theme and Variations Op 107, performed with Michael Leslie, Thomas Rugge and Michael Shopper for Bavarian Radio and released by Büchergilde Gutenberg.
​
Her most recent concerto performances include Sibelius Violin Concerto, Barber Violin Concerto and Brahms Violin Concerto.
​
In addition to her numerous performing commitments, Andrea is a dedicated teacher. International pop star, Madonna studied with Andrea for several months before pulling out of Wes Craven’s Hollywood film “50 Violins,” also known as “Music for the Heart,” which eventually starred Meryl Streep. Andrea was also the strings advisor on the film.
​
Currently Andrea teaches violin at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh. She has given classes and string workshops for the European String Teachers’ Association, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Sydney Conservatorium (Australia), Sabac Music School (Serbia), Kragujevac Music School (Serbia), Victoria International Arts Festival (Malta) and Sistema Scotland, and looks forward to delivering a workshop for the Benedetti Strings Festival, Saffron Hall later this year. Since 2014, she has been course leader for the String Summer Courses at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which attract students from all round the world, and has been on the panel for auditions and competitions for the European Union Youth Orchestra, RCS Concerto Competition, Douglas Academy and MusicFest.
​
Andrea has performed at a number of international festivals and last year gave a recital for the Arctic Arts Festival, Norway, and the following month performed Brahms Violin Concerto with the Malta Philharmonic at the closing concert of Victoria International Arts Festival.
​
She plays on a violin made by Nicolaus Gagliano in 1766.