Dr Elena Artamonova
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Dr Elena Artamonova is a Lecturer in Russian Studies, a Member of the Vladimir Vysotsky Centre for Slavonic Studies and a Member of the Lancashire Research Centre for Migration, Diaspora and Exile (MIDEX). She teaches a range of modules on Russian Culture and Language, and successfully combines her scholarly and viola performing activities with over 20 years of teaching experience.
Elena has published widely on Russian cultural history and music. Her work has been presented at many international conferences, and her world premier CDs on Toccata Classics have been received to a high critical acclaim. Elena joined the School in September 2018 and teaches a range of modules on Russian Culture, Music, History and Language at a variety of levels.
Dr Elena Artamonova is an accomplished and dedicated academic, violist and teacher, specialising in Russian cultural studies and interdisciplinary research combined with music performance. She has taught at leading colleges and schools, developing a very high reputation as a linguist and musician with exceptional results. In doing so Elena has designed and successfully taught courses at all levels combined with modules on Russian history, literature, music and culture, introducing new teaching resources, also providing academic tutoring, preparing students for national examinations, international music festivals and creative writing competitions, as well as organising workshops and cultural events.
Being fortunate to study with some outstanding professors in Russia, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, Elena has a number of international prizes, awards and Degrees with Distinction and First-Class Honours to her credit. She also holds a PhD in Performance Practice on Russian Avant-garde movement of the turn of the 20th century defended at Goldsmiths, University of London, in January 2014. This unique experience provided a flexible, broad and innovative approach to her own learning and activities as a scholar with research interests that span from traditions of the Old Believers of the 16th century to the National Anthem of the USSR and the Birth of Modern Viola, to name just a pair of examples. With numerous research presentations at international conferences in the UK and abroad (including being a co-organiser, invited speaker and performer as well as a member of conference committees), extensive archival investigations, and research publications worldwide on Russian cultural history and music, and on the history of the viola and its repertoire, Elena has brought to light information about Russian-Soviet life that was not previously known either in Russia or the West.
Her recording projects with three world premier CDs on the Toccata Classics label with works by Grigori Frid (TOCC 0330), Alexander Grechaninov (TOCC 0234) and Sergei Vasilenko (TOCC 0127), the fruits of Elena’s archival investigations, have been received to a high critical international acclaim describing her playing as ‘excellent with smooth and well-focused tone’ (Fanfare) and ‘highly admirable’ (American Record Guide). An advocate for fascinating but often undiscovered and diverse repertoire for the viola, Elena has performed at prestigious concert venues and international festivals as a soloist, chamber-musician and viola leader in the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia, the USA and South Korea.
- PhD, Goldsmiths, University of London (Dr of Philosophy, PhD on Russian Avant-garde Movement), UK, 2014
- CT ABRSM (Certificate of Teaching), London, UK, 2007
- PG in Music Performance, LCM, University of West London, UK, 2000
- Associate of the Royal College of Music with Honours, ARCM (Hon), UK, 2000
- Fellowship of the London College of Music, FLCM, UK, 2000
- Dip. with Distinction (MMus), State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire (Performer/Teacher in HE), Moscow, Russia, 1998
- Dip. with First Class Honours (BA), State Gnesin Music College (Performer/Teacher), Moscow, Russia, 1993
- General Certificate of Education in Music with First Class Honours, Miaskovsky Special Music School, Moscow, Russia, 1989
- General Certificate of Education, German Special Language School, Moscow, Russia, 1989
- Nominated for University Stars 2019 in the Commitment to Community, Charity or Public Engagement category, University of Central Lancashire, 2019
- Award for Research Work Abroad, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, 2008, 2010
- British Reserve String Prize, UK, 2000
- Associate of the Royal College of Music with Honours, UK, 2000
- Fellowship of the London College of Music, UK, 2000
- London College of Music Award, UK, 1999
- Michael Stucky Trust Award, UK, 1999
- Louis Krasner Prize for academic and instrumental excellence, UK, 1999.
- Russian cultural heritage with interdisciplinary integration of history, aesthetics and music
- British-Russian cultural crossovers
- Avant-garde movement
- the Old Believers
- History of Viola Performance.
- 2018 - present: Member of the Editorial Board of the Peer-Reviewed Journal ‘Art and Culture’.
- 2016 - present: Member of the International Committee ISCCAC and SIAS.
- 2009 - present: extensive archival investigations and numerous research presentations at international conferences as a co-organiser, an invited speaker and viola performer as well as a member of conference committees in the UK and abroad.
- 2000 - Associate of the Royal College of Music (Hon), London, and Fellowship of the London College of Music.
- 1995 - present: recitals and chamber/orchestral performances in the UK, Russia, the USA, South Korea, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany.
Elena is an academic and violist specialising in Russian Cultural Studies, Viola Performance and Musicology with interdisciplinary integration of history, aesthetics and music with research interests that span from traditions of the Old Believers of the 16th century to the Avant-garde movement and the Birth of Modern Viola to name just a pair of examples. She undertook extensive research in archives in Russia, United Kingdom and the USA, and brought to light information about Russian-Soviet cultural life that was not previously known either in Russia or the West. Elena has published widely on Russian cultural history and music in English and in Russian in Russia, the UK, France, Poland and the USA. The list of Elena’s recent publications based on archival findings on British-Russian musical discoveries during WWII, Vadim Borisovsky, dialogue of cultures and conversation with arts, the history behind the National Anthem of the USSR and other topics can be found on her University’s CloK profile.
Elena’s world premiere recording projects based on archival discoveries: Grigori Frid, Complete Music for Viola and Piano. Elena Artamonova (viola), Christopher Guild (piano). World premiere recording, CD and Booklet notes ‘Grigori Frid. In Memoriam’ (pp. 2-12). London: Toccata Classics, January 2016. TOCC 0330. Alexander Grechaninov, Complete Music for Viola and Piano. Elena Artamonova (viola), Nicholas Walker (piano). World premiere recording, CD and Booklet notes ‘Alexander Grechaninov and the Viola’ (pp. 2-9). London: Toccata Classics, April 2014. TOCC 0234. Sergei Vasilenko, Complete Music for Viola and Piano. Elena Artamonova (viola), Nicholas Walker (piano). World premiere recording, CD and Booklet notes ‘Sergei Vasilenko and the Viola’ (pp. 2-11). London: Toccata Classics, 2011. TOCC 0127.
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- Member of The Vladimir Vysotsky Centre for Russian Studies
- Member of the Lancashire Research Centre for Migration, Diaspora and Exile in Media/Music, Literature and Art (MIDEX)
- Elena arranged and conducted interviews on British-Russian collaborations and crossovers within the Year of Music UK-Russia 2019-2020, including with Vladimir Jurowski (Principal Conductor of the LPO), Gerard McBurney (composer, writer and BBC broadcaster), Elizabeth Wilson (writer and cellist), Alexander Vustin (composer) and Professor Martin Outram (the RAM, the Maggini Quartet). Elena also continues her work on viola repertoire and its history as well as on Soviet-Russian cultural insights and their reflection in inner and outer migration.
- Award/Grant for Research Work Abroad, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, 2008 and 2010.
- International Conference ‘Russian-British Intercultural Dialogue: Russian Music in Britain – British Music in Russia.’ University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK, November 2019. Conference co-organiser, speaker and performer.
- International Conference ‘Russian-British Intercultural Dialogue: Russian Music in Britain – British Music in Russia.’ State Institute for Art Studies, Moscow, Russia, October 2019. Conference committee, invited speaker.
- International Conference ‘Science Spring 2019’, personal invitation as a representative of UCLan. State Institute for Art Studies, Moscow, April 2019.
- Violin Masterclass by invitation as a part of the UK-Russia Year of Music, Taneev Specialist Music School, Moscow, April 2019.
- International Conference ‘Art Studies, ICASSEE’. State Institute for Art Studies, Moscow, Russia, October 2018. Conference committee, invited speaker.
- International Conference ‘Art Studies: Science, Experience, Education, ICASSEE,’ International Science and Culture Centre for Academic Contacts, ISCCAC; Research Centre of Art Studies, Zhengzhou University, China; State Institute for Art Studies, Moscow, Russia, November 2017. Conference committee, invited speaker.
- International Conference and Concerts ‘Between the Lands. Alexander Ivashkin Remembered,’ Goldsmiths, University of London, June 2017. Conference committee, invited speaker and performer.
- International Symposium ‘Between the Lands. From Poland to Russia via Belarus and Ukraine: a Journey through Cinema, History, Memory and Music.’ MHRA and University College London, June 2016. Invited speaker and performer.
- International Conference and Festival ‘Sergei Taneev. 100th Death Anniversary’, State Institute for Art Studies, Moscow, Russia, June 2015. Invited speaker.
- International Conference and Festival ‘Orthodoxy, Music, Politics and Art in Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe,’ University of Eastern Finland and Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK, March 2013.
- Lecture-recital ‘Sergei Vasilenko and the Viola’ and the launch of the First Complete Recording of Vasilenko’s Viola Works, Centre for Russian Music, Goldsmiths College, University of London, June 2011 and the Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, October 2011.
- International Conference and Festival ‘Music in Russia and the Soviet Union: Reappraisal and Rediscovery,’ Durham University, UK, July 2011. Research presentation and Final Recital of the Festival.
- International Conference ‘Music for Stringed Instruments: Music Archives and the Materials of Musicological Research in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries,’ Cardiff University, UK, June 2010.
- A Study Day ‘(M) Other Russia – Researching and Performing Russian Music,’ Centre for Russian Music, Goldsmiths College, London, UK, February 2009.
Telephone:+44 (0)1772 895499
Email: Email:Dr Elena Artamonova
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