Irina Ponomareva

Irina Ponomareva is a cellist and educator with extensive experience in performance and teaching.

She received her higher musical education at the Rostov State Rachmaninov Conservatory (Russia), graduating with high honors. She previously studied at the Chernivtsi Music College (Ukraine) and the Rostov College of Arts (Russia). She later completed postgraduate studies at the Rostov State Rachmaninov Conservatory.

Over the course of her career, she has performed with orchestral and chamber ensembles, including the Rostov State Musical Theatre Orchestra, and has been an active chamber musician. She also served for many years as a concertmaster of chamber ensembles at the conservatory.

She participated in concert tours with the Rostov Musical Theatre Orchestra throughout the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. During her touring career, she collaborated with internationally recognized conductors.

She is a prizewinner of international chamber music competitions, including First Prize at the Maria Yudina International Competition (St. Petersburg) and the “Art of the 21st Century” International Young Performers Competition (Kyiv). She has extensive teaching experience in cello instruction, working with students of various levels in both private lessons and chamber ensemble settings.