Gifted 15-year-old violinist Lyudmila Vygovskaya performed in Voronezh

By the age of 15, the girl became the winner of more than 30 music competitions, performed at the most prestigious concert venues, including the Bolshoi Theater, the State Kremlin Palace, the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky and many others. Lyudmila Vygovskaya is also a scholarship recipient of the famous Vladimir Spivakov International Charitable Foundation.

Instead of words

Lyudmila first heard the “violin” when she was in Prague in the Church of St. George. This is one of the oldest churches in the Czech city, where concerts of classical and church music are held. The violinist’s mother, Marina, recalls: when her daughter became acquainted with the violin, the girl was only two years old.

– I really liked the violin, because it’s like a person – it can convey feelings. She is able to convey even what is not always possible to say in words,” says Lyudmila Vygovskaya.

At first, my mother assumed that Luda’s passion for the violin might not be serious – children are always inquisitive at that age. But at the age of five she began to study the instrument diligently. In the Vygovsky family, Lyudmila is the first musician.

– As soon as I picked up the violin, I immediately felt love. “I asked for a very long time to be given it,” says the violinist. – I want to learn to play just like my teacher Anna Nikolaevna Sokolova. I’ve been with her since I was seven. When she plays, some magic happens. Even if a person is sad, it goes away immediately, people are happy when she plays music. I also want to bring people joy.

“The neighbors are used to it”

During our conversation, Lyudmila never once said “instrument” or simply “violin.” Her connection with the instrument seems so strong, and her love so deep, that the musician cannot do without an affectionate suffix. In addition, as Lyudmila admits, 90% of success depends on the violin – if you don’t find contact with her, then the concert won’t work.

– This violin was given to me by a German master. He made it especially for me, to my size. Here on the fingerboard is the scale (the actual length of the strings from the top to the bottom on stringed musical instruments – approx. auto.), and I have a small hand, so the neck is narrower than standard. Usually, craftsmen sharpen violins to suit the performers’ hands, but this takes away from the beauty of the sound. And my violin continues to sound the whole hall,” says Lyudmila.

According to Marina Vygovskaya, her daughter does not let go of the violin and loves to both compose and perform. Lyudmila studies at a music school at the conservatory and travels every day from her native Chekhov to Moscow. The journey takes about three hours one way. She teaches lessons in transport. On weekends, Lyuda studies at home – from morning to evening. As my mother says, the neighbors have already gotten used to it, moreover, thanks to my daughter, now almost all the children and teenagers at home are studying in art schools. Some even come to Luda to take lessons – for tips if they don’t understand something in the program. The young violinist always finds the right words to help.

Home is best

Lyudmila Vygovskaya represented Russia at festivals in Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, the USA, Spain and other countries. Many foreign teachers compete for the opportunity to teach gifted teenagers. Marina Vygovskaya says that, like any mother, she feels joy and pride for her child and respects her decision to stay with Russian teachers.

– For me there is no one better than Anna Nikolaevna. She can not only show how to perform, but also explain the technique. Simply put, which technique should be used and where. The combination of both allows you to study with interest, and if there is no understanding and the teacher cannot explain the technique, your hands get clamped. Nothing comes of this,” says Lyudmila.

Teacher Anna Sokolova is a touring musician herself, associate professor at the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky and Dean of the Faculty of Orchestral String Instruments of the Central Music School – Academy of Performing Arts. But when she has time, she travels to other cities and countries to support her student. In Voronezh, Lyudmila Vygovskaya took a photograph of the teacher with her – this allows her to feel the support of Anna Nikolaevna.

Five years later, Lyudmila Vygovskaya sees herself as a touring violinist.

– I have already visited many countries with performances, but most of all I like Russia. I also like the Czech Republic and Austria. Although in fact they are received very warmly everywhere. Foreigners like the Russian feeling of music,” says Lyudmila.