Biography

Sofia Ugusheva, born in Arkhangelsk, Russia, discovered her love for music at a young age. Starting violin lessons at six, she later switched to the viola at 12. This change in instrument led her to be accepted into the renowned Special School of Music in Saint Petersburg, where she continued her study of the viola.


After high school, Sofia Ugusheva enrolled in the State Conservatory to professor Vladimir Stopichev to pursue her music studies. In 2020, she decided to continue her education at the Anton Rubinstein Music Academy in Düsseldorf under the guidance of Yuri Bondarev. This opportunity allowed Sofia to further develop her skills on the viola, explore various musical styles, and connect with fellow musicians. Since 2022, Sofia has been Yuri Bondarev’s assistant at the Academy. 
Sofia Ugusheva has the privilege of playing the viola under the mentorship of master Carletti, supported by the Blatow Stiftung.


During her studies, she played in orchestras such as the Baltic Symphony Orchestra, NDR Jugendorchester and Bashmet Jugendorchester with whom she performed in countries such as Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Hungary, China, South Korea, Singapore.


Sofia Ugusheva has taken part in summer orchestra academies in Switzerland, Austria, and Norway. These opportunities allowed her to collaborate with fellow musicians and further develop her skills on the viola. Additionally, she has attended master classes led by respected musicians such as Tobias Lee, Christoph Schiller, and Yuri Bashmet, where she gained valuable insights and honed her craft. These experiences have been instrumental in Sofia’s musical growth and have expanded her artistic horizons.


Sofia Ugusheva has been a member of the Orchestra Academy of the Staatskapelle Berlin since 2022, where she receives guidance from Felix Schwartz. She takes great pleasure in participating in chamber concerts, gaining valuable experience playing in symphony and opera programs. Sofia has had the privilege of performing with esteemed conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Simon Rattle.


From the new season 2024 she will start to play in violist’s group of Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig