Ania Safonova

Ania Safonova is a violinist and teacher, with extensive experience in orchestral leadership at the highest professional level. She was Associate Concertmaster, Royal Opera House Orchestra (2008–2019), and Associate Leader, Hallé Orchestra (2001–2006).

Since leaving her full-time position at the Royal Opera House, she has continued to work regularly as a guest leader with major UK orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Wagner Ring Cycle with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with Opera Australia.

She works with advanced students, audition candidates, and serious adult players.

I help students understand that musical ideas are realised through specific physical choices on the instrument. If an idea does not come across, there is  usually a clear explanation and therefore solution. 

By breaking the musical intention down into its physical components (bow use, timing, contact point, distribution, left-hand organisation, vibrato or its absence), we can identify what is preventing the idea from coming across and adjust it. This allows musical intentions to be translated reliably into sound, rather than remaining something the player can imagine but not consistently produce.