Classical Concert
Trinity Hall!
15 March - 6pm
Spaces are limited. This is a free concert but registration is essential
Here, music travels without borders — from the discipline of classical sound to the freedom of jazz and improvisation. Performed by two artists from Azerbaijan, the concert draws on a common heritage to gently weave together East and West.
Sabina Rakcheyeva, Violin
Sabina Rakcheyeva is an Azerbaijani-British violinist, cultural diplomat, and educator, best known as the first musician from Azerbaijan to graduate from The Juilliard School and for blending Eastern and Western musical traditions. Born in Baku in 1976, she studied violin from age six, earned degrees from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, and later completed a PhD in Cultural Diplomacy at the University of London.
Rakcheyeva has performed as a soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician in over 40 countries at venues including Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, and the Verbier Festival. She has collaborated with conductors such as James Levine and Zubin Mehta, performed for global leaders and the British Royal Family, and is recognized for her work in cultural diplomacy, including her European Cultural Parliament nomination, founding of the Sabina Rakcheyeva Ensemble, and appearances at the World Economic Forum. Her media work includes BBC and Voice of America recordings and the 2021 film Leila’s Violin, which was an official selection at the Monaco International Film Festival.
Gunel Mirzayeva, Piano
Driven by an all-consuming passion for J.S. Bach, Gunel Mirzayeva has forged a
revolutionary performance approach bridging Western and Eastern musical
traditions. Her pivotal 2006 journey from Azerbaijan to London opened doors to
extraordinary opportunities, leading to electrifying performances at prestigious
venues including London’s Wigmore Hall and Barbican Hall, and Amsterdam’s
Concertgebouw. In 2016, Mirzayeva’s groundbreaking exploration of cross-cultural interpretation revealed stunning connections between Baroque masterpieces, Azerbaijani piano traditions, and mugham improvisation. Now a pioneering force in contemporary classical music, she channels unstoppable creative energy into cutting-edge musical projects and breathtaking modern interpretations of Bach’s works, creating transcendent experiences that captivate audiences worldwide.
​
