Life
Candlelight was initially conceived as a classical music series with concerts featuring works by renowned composers, such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin.
Now, the ever-growing list of programs includes a wide variety of themes and genres, including tributes to contemporary artists like Queen, ABBA and more. This innovative format provides a unique live musical experience, offering a variety of programs to meet all tastes,
Maria Khachieva attended masterclasses with well-known musicians such as Chiara Morandi and Danilo Rossi. She has an extensive performance experience within orchestras such as Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, Torre del Lago, Symphony Orchestra of La Spezia, EstOrchestra and many others.
To delve into a musical journey, spoke to Khachieva on her journey began on what led her to choose this career path.
Talk us through your background and career.
I am an Italian with a Russian background who grew up in Tuscany. My journey with music started when I was just five years old, and I began playing the violin. However, I later switched to the viola when I turned seventeen. In 2022, I graduated with honours and was awarded a merit scholarship. Throughout my studies, I also attended several masterclass courses with Danilo Rossi, who is the principal violist of La Scala. I have had the privilege of playing with various Italian orchestras, including the Puccini Festival Orchestra. I am excited to share that the orchestra will be coming to Abu Dhabi at the end of January 2024.
Where do you get the discipline and motivation to be consistent and are there any practices which have helped you with this?
I learned discipline through my mother, who was a music teacher. During my teenage years, my desire to improve and my curiosity to see how far I could push myself helped me to stay persistent. I believe it’s important to set high-attainable goals and push yourself hard. However, I have noticed that many people, including my students, tend to focus more on competing with others rather than motivating themselves. In reality, self-motivation and self-improvement are the keys to success.
What role has mentorship played in your career?
Mentorship has played a significant role in my life. I owe a great deal to two Italian maestros: Danilo Rossi and Fabrizio Merlini. They not only taught me a lot about the viola but also provided me with guidance and support during difficult times. As a young musician, having a teacher who could motivate and encourage me was essential. Today, I am delighted to be in a position to offer the same level of support to my students.
Are there any milestones you are most proud of?
It’s difficult for me to pinpoint a single achievement that I’m most proud of because I have many. These achievements range from the competitions I participated in in Italy to the people I’ve had the honour of meeting throughout my music career. However, I can say that I am currently proud and happy to be a violist and a viola teacher in Abu Dhabi. This is particularly important because I take pride in seeing my students achieve their goals with my support. Additionally, I am thrilled to be working with my quartet and to have the honour of playing with such professional musicians.
