Semion Gavrikov
violin

Semion Gavrikov, born in Ukraine, began studying the violin at age 5. He attended the Ukraine art school under Igor Kuzmienko, In 1998 immigrated to Israel and started his studies in the Israeli Conservatory under Lena Mazor and Irena Svetlova and later with Irena Svetlova at the Buchman Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv University. Semion currently studies with Donald Weilerstein at the New England Conservatory in Boston. He performed as a soloist with the Ukraine Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, Israel Symphony Orchestra, Simphonietta Be'er Sheva under the baton of Shlomo Mintz, The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as well as with other major orchestras in Israel and abroad.

Semion has played concerts throughout Europe, Russia and the USA. Competitions he has won include first prize in the New Names Competition (1996), first prize in the Young Virtuoso Competition (1996, 1998), Odessa Competition (1996), special prize at the Odessa Competition (1994) and the Rubin Academy Competition (2004). He received several scholarships such as the Buchman-Heyman foundation (1998, 2002), The Issac Strearn foundation, the Joshua Rabinovich Foundation. He is a graduate of the Young Musicians' Unit of the Jurusalem Music Centre and is a recipient of the America Israel Cultural Foundation since 1999.

Semion is supported by the Zfunot Tarbut Ð Nonprofit organization for art and artists in Israel. He took part at the Perlman Music Program in the years 2000, 2001, and has participated in the Keshet Eilon Mastercourse since 2000. He recorded and broadcasted for the Israeli Radio both as a soloist and as a chamber music player. In 2003 Semion preformed with "Moskowya" chamber orchestra in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. In May 2006 Semion won first prize at the prestigious competition the "Claremont Competition" and in 2008 won the "Aviv Competition". Lust year Semion made a debut in legendary Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Semion plays 1735 Guarnerius del Gesu.