Elfida Su Turan violin
Katya Grabova piano

Programme:
Enescu — Impressions d’enfance
Vaughan Williams — Lark Ascending
Adnan Saygun — Horon
Bartók — Romanian Folk Dances

This concert takes place at St Christopher’s Church, St Christopher's Green, Haslemere, GU27 1DD.

Elfida Su Turan is a Turkish violinist who has performed as a soloist with Turkey’s national and numerous state symphony orchestras since the age of 10. Over the past five years, she has appeared with prominent ensembles including the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra of Budapest, İzmir State Symphony Orchestra, Eskişehir Symphony Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonia, and the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. Her most recent orchestral appearance was with the AIMA Chamber Orchestra in September 2024.

After receiving top prizes in national and international competitions, Elfida was named Turkey’s ‘Best Emerging Musician’ in 2017. An avid chamber musician, she has performed in renowned festivals and concert halls across three continents, including the Bastille Opera House (France), Auditorio de Zaragoza, Menuhin Hall, İş Sanat, and Zorlu PSM Turkcell Stage. Through these engagements, she has had the privilege of working with distinguished violinists and mentors such as Maxim Vengerov, Dora Schwarzberg, Itzhak Rashkovsky, Rodney Friend and Vilde Frang.

Elfida began her musical education in the UK in 2016 with a full scholarship to The Yehudi Menuhin School. She currently studies at the Royal Academy of Music under Professor So-Ock Kim. During her undergraduate years, she was awarded the David Martin/Florence Hooton Concerto Prize (2023) as a prize-deal, she had the privilege to play the ‘Lark Ascending’ with the 12 ensemble in Duke’s Hall. In her final year of undergraduate studies she has won the Homi Kanga Prize for the highest final recital mark in her department, as well as the Clarence Myerscough Award.

Most recently, Elfida was named joint first prize winner of the 2025 Haslemere International Strings Competition alongside double bassist Levi Andreassen. Their duoperfomed their debut with the London Mozart Players in May 2025 at the Haslemere Festival. Elfida is grateful to be supported by Talent Unlimited.

https://www.instagram.com/elfidasuturanofficial/

Concert pianist Katya Grabova was described as a “…very fine young artist, who quite simply loves the piano” after her recent solo recital at St. Mary Perivale. Her interpretations earned recognition for “remarkable musical and technical perfection.” (Christopher Axworthy Music Commentary)

Highlights of next season include her solo recital debut at Wigmore Hall in November 2025.

Katya has participated in and performed at major international festivals, including the Rheingau Music Festival (Germany), Tel-Hai Piano Masterclasses (Israel), “Bezszady bez granic” (Poland), and the Bowdoin Music Festival (USA). She has performed at well-known concert series such as Leeds International Concert Season and the Summer Piano Festival at Royal Academy of Music.

As a recognition of her achievements, Katya has won numerous competitions, including “Mlody Virtuos” (Poland), “Sforzando” and the Rubinstein International Music Competition (Germany), and the “Steps to Mastery,” Neuhaus Music Festival, and Nutcracker TV Competition for Young Musicians (Russia). Additionally she was honoured to receive the First Prize Grant from the Mayor of Moscow.

https://www.katyagrabova.com/