Peteris Sokolovskis

 

Peteris Sokolovskis was born in Novokuznetsk, Russia and he took up the cello at the age of 6 with teacher Lija Sudraba in Riga, Latvia. During his time in Latvia he won various competitions, including the competiton 'Talent Latvia'. Through auditions, Peteris was selected to play in Riga's M. Rostropovich festival youth ensemble, conducted by Rostropovich himself. In 2002 Peteris won 3rd and the Audience Prizes and was awarded the best interpretation of the compulsory piece in Tallin International Competition 'Young Musician'. In the final he played with the Tallin Chamber Orchestra. In 2003 Peteris received a place with a full scholarship at the Purcell School of Music, UK where he studied cello with Prof. Alexander Boyarsky. During his time at the school, Peteris played at the Wigmore Hall several times, as a chamber musician and as soloist, performing Debussy Cello Sonata. Peteris received the Help Musicians UK Shaw Award, and he also received the Young Cellist Award from the Pierre Fournier foundation.

 

Peteris graduated from the Royal College of Music, London with 1st Class Hons. He is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Louise Hopkins. His studies are supported by the Leverhulme Trust, Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Award and the Guildhall School Trust. Peteris has participated in masterclass with Bernard Greenhouse, Louise Hopkins and Robert Cohen. In 2010 he performed H. Villa-Lobos's 'Jet Whistle' with his sister Renate Sokolovska at the Royal Festival Hall. In 2011 he won the RCM Cello Competition and was awarded a Martin Musical Scholarship Award. Peteris was selected to be part of the RCM Rising Stars concert series at the Cadogan Hall.

 

Peteris was a member of the London Symphony Orchestra "Strings Experience Scheme 2012/13" which allowed him to work alongside the orchestra members and to work with conductors John Adams, Valery Gergiev and Bernard Haitink. He has been a member of the teaching staff at the Oxford Cello School from 2009. Recently he became a member of KREMERata Baltica.

 

Peteris plays on a 2009 Frederic Chaudiere Cello.