Violinists Boris Brovtsyn and Pavel Vernikov join our music department
We are delighted to announce that internationally acclaimed violinists Boris Brovtsyn and Pavel Vernikov have joined our growing music department as Professor of Violin and Visiting Professor, respectively.
Boris Brovtsyn has just joined the School. Following a masterclass in April 2023, Pavel Vernikov will visit the School on a regular basis throughout the academic year. They join internationally respected violinist and pedagogue Robin Wilson who was announced as a Professor earlier this year.
Boris Brovtsyn has established himself as one of the most profound and versatile musicians of his generation. He is in ever-increasing demand all around the world as both concerto soloist and chamber musician. His repertoire includes over fifty violin concertos and hundreds of chamber works, some of which he premiered. He held a professorship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 2010 until 2016 and has given masterclasses all around the world, including South Korea, Thailand and Brazil. He is currently holding a professorship at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität in Vienna.
Pavel Vernikov has gained an international reputation as a virtuoso violinist and is one of the world’s most in-demand pedagogues. Among his many awards, he won the prestigious ARD Violin Competition in Munich and the Grand Prix International Violin Competition Vittorio Gui in Florence. He has appeared at renowned venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall as well as the Kennedy Center in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, La Salle Gaveau in Paris, Auditorio National in Madrid, Santory Hall in Tokyo, La Scala in Milan and Santa Cecilia in Rome. He has been the artistic director of the Sion Festival since 2013 and is the founder of the Tibor Junior Violin Competition. He has developed an intense teaching schedule which includes professorships in Vienna and Sion, and gives frequent masterclasses, whilst also sitting on the jury of several international competitions.
Boris Brovtsyn said: “I’m thrilled to start a new chapter of my life. So many of my friends and colleagues have long associations with YMS, so it’s a pleasure to play a role in nurturing the next generation of young musicians. It feels like a homecoming, and I’m delighted to be at the School.”
Pavel Vernikov said: “I spent some wonderful days at the famous Menuhin School. It's a fantastic school with very talented and sympathetic pupils. It was a great pleasure to work with them. I am looking forward to continuing our collaboration as Visiting Professor.”
Ashley Wass, YMS Director of Music, said: “When advertising for a new Professor of Violin last year, the School received over 90 applications from teachers and performers around the globe. It is testament to Boris’s ability to inspire, therefore, that he was the unanimous choice of everyone involved in the selection process. There is no doubt that he will be a wonderful guide for the pupils under his care, and an exceptional colleague to the staff of YMS.
Pavel needed no introduction to our pupils; his standing as one of the world’s pre-eminent pedagogues ensured that he was already well-known to all. His warmth, dynamism and inspirational insights delighted everyone when he visited us for a series of masterclasses last month. We can’t wait to welcome him back on a regular basis in the years to come.
Both Boris and Pavel represent the very best of music teaching; they possess tremendous expertise and aim to set the highest standards, but they do so with great warmth, empathy and positivity. They don’t just teach the violin, they teach music, and their focus – above all else – is on encouraging the pupils to nurture a healthy, life-long relationship with their instruments. These are values which are central to the modern-day YMS ethos, and I am proud to welcome them to our faculty.”
Owing to our growing popularity, and the expansion of the school roll, we are looking for another Professor of Violin to join our team of world-class musicians and educators. Read more and apply for the role via our employment opportunities page.