Sophia Kirsanova
Latvian violinist Sophia Kirsanova enjoys a diverse career, having made numerous solo, chamber music appearances and held orchestral positions throughout Europe, Australia, Israel, and since 2019 has been based in Melbourne.

Sophia’s orchestral career has included 1st Violin positions with Sinfonietta Riga (2006/7) and Israel Camerata (2009–2018), as well as guest principal and tutti roles with various orchestras. Sophia has been a member of the Piano Trio RAM (2009-12) and Duo Brozgul-Kirsanova (since 2022). Sophia has appeared as a soloist with orchestras, including the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and frequently with the Israel Camerata. She has given recitals in Europe, Israel and Australia (Melba Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre) and continues to appear regularly in concerts and festivals. In 2022, Sophia founded Melbourne Strings, of which she is the lead violinist and program curator.

Berta Brozgul
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, pianist Berta Brozgul migrated to Australia at the age of 12.

She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, with highest honours.

She has received many prizes in Australia as well as overseas, and was the fourth place winner in the prestigious Lev Vlassenko piano competition in Brisbane, in 2015. She was also awarded the Queensland Symphony Orchestra vote for the best concerto performance of the evening, performing Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto.

During her studies at the Australian National Academy of music from 2016 to 2018, she was awarded the prize for the most outstanding performance in a solo recital, as well as the Ursula Hoff prize for outstanding performance of a work by Mozart.

She was also selected as a finalist in the concerto competition in 2018, performing Chopin’s E-minor Piano Concerto with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

She is an active collaborative artist as well as a soloist, and has performed alongside numerous international artists including the Australian tenor Steve Davislim and the internationally renowned violinist Ye-Eun Choi, and has been a guest pianist with the well known Australian piano trio, the ‘Firebird trio’, on numerous occasions.

In 2023, she made her debut with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, performing Bartók’s piano concerto no 3 conducted by Benjamin Northey.