Sania Derevianko, Violin
Mr.* and Mrs. Mordechai Wiesler Chair
Sania Derevianko was born in Moscow and grew up in Israel. She received her B.M. degree from the Tel-Aviv Music Academy (Tel-Aviv University), her graduate performance diploma from the Peabody Conservatory and her M.M. degree from the Frost Music School (University of Miami). She has held the position of concertmaster with every orchestra at each school she has attended.
Prior to coming to Naples, she was a member of the New World Symphony, where she was co-concertmaster and with whom she did five international tours. She has also substituted with the Israel Philharmonic, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra and the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. Sania has also spent summers performing at the Meadowmount School of Music, the Chautauqua Music Festival, the National Orchestral Institute and the Pacific Music Festival, where she performed solo, orchestral and chamber music concerts.
Sania was born into a musical family. Her grandfather was the assistant to the famous Russian violinist David Oistrakh. Sania's mother was a pianist who founded the Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes, where Sania acted as the manager in the summers of 2003-07, and her father is a concert pianist who is the artistic director of the International Piano Master Classes. She enjoys performing chamber music with her father every summer at the festival and in Naples, when he is able to come. Sania has been a member of the Naples Philharmonic since 1999.
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The facts:
I was born in Moscow, Russia, to a musical family and grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel. I got my bachelor’s at The Tel Aviv University School of Music, Graduate Performance Diploma from Peabody Conservatory and Master of Music from University of Miami. I met former Naples Philharmonic Concertmaster Glenn Basham in 1994 while playing at the New World Symphony. In 1997, he invited me to be his teaching assistant at UM and eventually got me to sub with the Naples Philharmonic. I won the audition for the full-time position in 1999 and never looked back.
What has been your most memorable moment with the orchestra?
There have been many. Playing chamber music with my dad for the Sypert Salon series and playing with many amazing artists such as Emanuel Ax, Renée Fleming, Itzhak Perlman, Vadim Gluzman and James Enhes, to name a few. Every time we get to "dress up," like the ’70s Pops, ’80's Pops or country performances. The performance with Renée Elise Goldsberry, and many more.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I come from a musical family. My grandfather was the assistant to famous violinist David Oistrakh, and both my parents are/were concert pianists. I had music in my house 24/7 my entire life.
What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
I love that we are a big family. We are all very supportive of each other both on and off the stage.
What’s challenging about playing your instrument?
We’re supposed to play out but also blend in our section, we cannot lead from the back and we have many people to follow — not only the conductor and our concertmaster or principal, but also the people in front of us. Also, the violin develops our arms and shoulders in an uneven way, and we sit for many hours each day.
What are your favorite compositions?
Any Brahms symphony, Mahler symphonies No. 5 and No. 6, most of the Shostakovich symphonies, Schubert Quintet for Two Cellos, Mendelssohn Octet (still on my bucket list to play) and many others.
What have you been listening to recently?
I don’t usually listen to a lot of classical music unless I’m preparing for a Masterworks program. Recently I've been listening to hard rock workout music while in the gym.
Are there other musicians in your immediate family?
Yes, as mentioned above, my grandfather from my mother's side was a violinist, my grandfather from my father's side was a baritone, grandmother from my father's side was a famous piano teacher in Moscow, my aunt is a violinist and both parents are/were concert pianists.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy lifting weights and some cardio group classes, so I spend a lot of time in the gym. I eat very clean and enjoy researching nutrition and healthy lifestyle.
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