Southeastern violinist to perform with Monroe Symphony
Contact: Christina Chapple
2/13/08
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HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University violinist Milena Rusanova, a graduate student from Ruse, Bulgaria, is among the winners of the Monroe Symphony League Young Artists Competition and, as her prize, will perform with the symphony on March 15.
Performing the first movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto, Rusanova was a finalist in the strings category in the young adult division. In addition to performing with the orchestra, she and her fellow competition finalists will receive $600 cash prizes.
“I’m glad of the opportunity to play with the orchestra,” said Rusanova, who studies violin performance in the studio of Yakov Voldman, director of Southeastern’s string program and the Southeastern Chamber Orchestra.
Last year, Rusanova competed in the national finals of the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competitions in Toronto, Canada. In 2001 she won an award for her performance of a Bulgarian piece in an international competition in Sofia.
Rusanova began studying the violin at the age of five at the High School of Arts in Ruse. She completed her bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria. She has participated in masterclasses with Dina Shnaiderman and Devi Erlih and studied chamber music in Austria. In 2001 she won an award for her performance of a Bulgarian piece in an international competition in Sofia.
“I would like to thank Dr. Voldman and [Southeastern staff accompanist] Raisa Voldman for their support and care of international students like myself,” Rusanova said. “Dr. Voldman is a very patient teacher and I am glad to be studying with him.
“I’m very happy to be at Southeastern,” she added. “It is very exciting to study in the United States and the environment here, along with organizations such as the campus ministries, has made me feel very welcome.”
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