This evening, we have an unusual and exciting duo formation in Andrea and Djordje Gajic, performing on the violin and accordion respectively. Those of us who remember them from last year know what to expect. The audience had been blown away by the sheer force of their technical brilliance and musicality.

Works on the programme include ones by Pärt, Ysaÿe, Brahms, Bach, Paganini, Massenet, Sarasate and Bazzini.

Andrea Gajic made an early mark in the world of music at the age of 12 performing Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy at St James’s Palace, London, for the celebration of the legendary Yehudi Menuhin’s 60^th birthday. Two years later, she won first prize in the Violin Competition organized by the American String Teachers Association. Andrea graduated from the Gnessin Academy of Music, Moscow, furthering postgraduate study at the Royal College of Music, London. Performances have taken her all over the U.K., the U.S.A., Russia, Lithuania, Finland, Germany and France, apart from giving master classes in Serbia. She has recorded for BBC, STV, Bavarian Radio, Baltimore Radio and others. Her vast repertoire includes the Brahms, Bruch, Prokofiev and Sibelius violin concertos. She has taught at the prestigious Menuhin School and the Music School of the Douglas Academy, Glasgow. Music critic for The Scotsman has described her performances as “natural to the last wisp of sound”. Andrea plays a 1766 Nicolaus Gagliano violin.

Djordje Gajic started his musical studies at the age of six in Serbia. He graduated with honours from the Russian Academy of Music in 1993, furthering his studies at the legendary Gnessin Academy of Music, after which he was appointed Assistant to Prof. Yuri Dranga. Djordje is the recipient of numerous international competitions, notably, the Grand Prix, France, in 1987, and the Tropheo Mondiale CMA, in 1988. Most recently, he featured on the BBC Radio 3 programme In Tune. He has performed with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Yvgeny Svetlanov, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and others. He has also given solo recitals all over Europe and since settling in Britain, has toured the major cities extensively and regularly participates in important festivals, namely, in Dartington, Norwich, Salisbury and Birmingham. Djordje is Professor of Accordion at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and at St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh.

This evening, the concert will be held in St Francis’ Church and starts at 8pm. Hope to see you all there!!