EFI CHRISTODOULOU, violin - City of Athens Symphony

Greek-born violinist Efi Christodoulou has been reviewed by The Strad as ‘a powerful violinist, demonstrating a high level of technical achievement’ (Wigmore Hall). She studied at Athens National Conservatory, graduating with honors &1st prize. She was selected for 5 years to play in the European Union Youth Orchestra’s European tours which led her to a scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music in London in 1991. She studied with Detlef Hahn,Yfrah Neaman and Eugene Sarbu. She participated in masterlasses throughout Europe with Ruggiero Ricci, Aaron Rosand, Sylvia Rosenberg, Eric Friedman, Vladimir Spivakov, Mark Lubotsky, Hermann Krebbers and Roman Totenberg. She has been awarded the British Graduates Society / British Council / Vakarelis Fellowship, the Greek State Foundation Award, the Ministry of Culture Scholarship, as well as awards by the Leventis Foundation and the Hellenic Foundation. She was also awarded the Sir Jack and Lady Lyons Performance Scholarship and ‘Master of Arts in Performance’ from City University, London.

Efi has performed extensively in her native Greece and abroad, has been featured on the BBC World Service, ERT Radio-Television, has collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra (section leaders’ scheme) and has broadcast for BBC Radio 2 at the Semi-finals of BBC Young Musician of the Year. She was the 2nd prize winner at the Anglo-Czech competition for her performances of works by Josef Suk, and a finalist (1st prize ex-equo) at the Michelangelo Abbado International Violin Competition (Milan).

Efi gave the Scottish premiere of the William Schuman concerto in Edinburgh (Fringe Festival) and has appeared at St. John’s, Smith Square, Brussels (European Parliament) and as a soloist with the Athens Symphony Orchestra, the Arcademia of Stuttgart, the Ernest Reed Symphony and the Oxford Philomusica, amongst others. Her extensive recital activity demonstrates a strong interest in contemporary compositions, having given premieres of works by David Matthews, Malcolm Arnold and the UK Premiere of the Concerto-Fantasia by Theodore Antoniou. Her 2nd Wigmore Hall recital featured the UK Premiere of works by Bernstein and Ned Rorem. She appeared at Salle Cortot (Paris), Athens Megaron and in Boston in a recital dedicated to Roman Totenberg’s 101 birthday, giving the American Premiere of works by Edward Gregson.

Efi was co-leader of the City of Athens Symphony from 2008 to 2011. She was appointed leader of the Greek National Opera’s Chamber Orchestra, from 2010 till today. She gratefully acknowledges the donation of a Pierre Silvestre violin (Lyon 1848) by Matti & Nicholas Egon. In 2011 Guild Records released her CD of works by Debussy, Elgar and Sibelius, to general acclaim: ‘outstanding, intelligent and passionate… in this interesting and enterprising programme’ (Classical Source, Sunday Times), ‘Efi Christodoulou tackles Sibelius Six Humoresques, with wit and flair, dashing off the virtuosic demands with élan and touches of silky warmth, and bringing infectious high spirits’ (The Strad)." In 2013 she gave the World Premiere performances of Matthew Taylor’s Violin Concerto in St. Petersburg with the Orchestra Capella and of Robert Still’s Violin Concerto in London with the Ealing Symphony, in which she was described as ‘of the highest standard of virtuosity with the use of a quite dazzling technique, one which overcame all the complexities in the solo part. (Musical Opinion). ‘There was no doubt as to the success of performing this work and that Efi Christodoulou was fully prepared and unswerving to her task. She supplied a great deal of activity and energy and had clearly mastered what seems unstinting demands’ (Classical Source). Her 2014 plans include a recording of the Dvorak and Glazunov Concertos with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, on the SOMM label.