Askar Salimdjanov, Violin
Askar Salimdjanov is a multiple winner of the Lyric Chamber Music Competition, winner of the first NSAL Piano and Strings Duo Competition, and winner of the Fourth Annual John Oliveira String Competition. He is also a laureate of the 6th International Competition of Young Performers in Moscow, a finalist in the 2nd Yankelevitch International Violin Competition and a laureate of Vladimir Spivakov’s International Music Festival. Askar has performed as soloist with the South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Miami, Uzbekistan National Symphony Orchestra, State Conservatory Orchestra of Uzbekistan and the Lynn Philharmonia under the batons of Kuvanch Usmanov, Vladimir Neymer, Kamoliddin Urinbaev, Alan Paris, Guillermo Figueroa, Elaine Rinaldi and Sebrina Alfonso. He has performed as a soloist and as a chamber musician internationally across Europe, America and Asia in such notable venues as the Great Hall of Uzbekistan State Conservatory, Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore, Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York, World Performing Arts Centre, the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale and the New World Center in Miami. He has performed on a 1795 Vincenzo Panormo generously loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Rin Kei Mei, 1670 Antonio Stradivarius and a 1702 Antonio Stradivarius loaned by Florian Leonhard Fine Violins Collection.
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The facts:
I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. I received my education at the Uspenskiy Special Music School in Tashkent from the age of 7, then I went on to study at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore, the Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, and at Rice University in Houston, Texas. My mentors are Gulnara Suleymanova, Qian Zhou, Elmar Oliveira and Cho-Liang Lin.
What inspired you to become a musician?
My family. I am a third generation of professional musicians in our family. My grandfather was an honored artist of Uzbekistan, a famous conductor who was the biggest influencer of my development as a professional musician. At the age of 12, I was honored to make my debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto under the baton of my grandfather, which was a solid start of my professional concert life. Also, my mother is a graduate of Uzbekistan Conservatory and teaches music theory and harmony classes at the special music school named after Uspensky in Tashkent, and my sister is a famous concert pianist and prizewinner of top international piano competitions. My family is a big music engine, which inspires and helps me.
What has been your most memorable moment with the orchestra?
The last Masterworks performances of the season in May 2023. We performed gorgeous works by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. Those concerts were very special for me.
What is challenging about playing your instrument?
I have a long list for all the famous challenges playing the violin, but it would take a few pages for this. My solution is to find an efficient way to practice for constant improvement. The challenge is to be able to get better and learn more the entire time you play the violin.
What are your favorite compositions?
There are many, but if I pick a few, it would be Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Leancavallo’s opera Pagliacci and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.
What have you been listening to recently?
I have been listening recently to jazz and British music from the ’70s and ’80s.
Are there other musicians in your immediate family?
Yes, as I mentioned above, my whole family is very musical.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to go to the gym, enjoy meals with friends and, of course, spend time on the beach.