Violin
Vassily Chmykov
Captivated by the violin, Vassily Chmykov began his musical training at the Rainier III Academy in Monaco in the class of Margarita Guerchovitch. A laureate of the H.S.H. Prince Albert II Prize, he subsequently entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP) in Alexis Galpérine's class, before continuing his studies in Switzerland at the HEMU Lausanne, earning a Soloist Master's degree under Svetlana Makarova.
His career is marked by prestigious accolades, including support from the Fondation Banque Populaire, the "Ana Chumachenco" Prize awarded by the Kronberg Academy, the Festival Ravel Prize, and the Pablo Casals Festival Special Prize. These honors celebrate a rapidly rising career acclaimed by both critics and audiences alike.
At age 15, he made his solo debut with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra at the Rainier III Auditorium, where his performance of Ravel's concert rhapsody "Tzigane" was particularly lauded. Since then, he has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestre des Lauréats du CNSMDP. He also explores conducting from the violin, notably directing the Artis ensemble in Haydn's Cello/Violin Concerto in C major on classical bow, as well as Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra during a tour in Siberia.
In chamber music, Vassily Chmykov frequently collaborates with artists such as Svetlin Roussev, Pierre Fouchenneret, Renaud Capuçon, Augustin Dumay, David Grimal, Victor Julien-Laferrière, Philippe Jaroussky, Lise Berthaud, and Laurent Korcia. He has been a member of the Trio Messiaen since 2025, is a founding member of the Phantasy Quartet, and, since 2023, is also a member of Ensemble Adélie, in residence at the Singer-Polignac Foundation.
His work as a soloist and chamber musician extends to major international stages. He performs at prestigious festivals such as Matsumoto in Japan, George Enescu in Romania, Going Home in South Korea, and Kronberg in Germany. In France, he takes part in La Folle Journée de Nantes, the Festival Ravel, the Pablo Casals Festival, and the Easter Festival of Deauville. He has appeared at iconic venues including the Philharmonie de Paris, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and the Musikverein in Vienna.
Critics highlight the exceptional quality of his artistry: "His playing is distinguished by a masterful virtuosity and musical depth that captivates listeners" – Le Monde.
Vassily Chmykov places great importance on orchestral leadership. His encounter with Seiji Ozawa in Japan deeply shaped his musical philosophy, reinforcing his belief that a spirit of artistic shared dialogue is an essential core of orchestral playing.
As guest concertmaster (Violon Supersoliste), he collaborates notably with the Orchestre National de Bordeaux-Aquitaine, the Orchestre National de Bretagne, the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, Orchestre Consuelo, the Orchestre National de Lille, and the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. He is also regularly invited by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Orchestre National de France as guest concertmaster.