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Varvara Ivanova, a Russian harpist and the youngest winner in the history of Israel’s prestigious International Harp Competition, was born into a family of musicians in Moscow, studying harp at the age of five at the Preparatory of Moscow Conservatory in the class of M.F. Maslennikova. Considered a child prodigy, she had her first major performance of the Handel's “Concerto for harp and Orchestra B-dur” at the age of seven at the Big Concert Hall of the Moscow Conservatory with Kremlin Chamber Orchestra.
Throughout her emerging career, Varvara has been awarded major prizes in numerous harp competitions, including first prize at the Lily Laskine Harp Competition, Junior Division, in France and first prize at the Vera Dulova Harp Competition in Russia. She has also been awarded the highly-coveted scholarship from the Rostropovich Music Fund.
In November 2001, Ivanova replaced Xavier de Maistre, principal harpist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, on one week notice, on a tour in Germany as a soloist with the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra and performed to critical acclaim in Dusseldorf Tonhalle, Hamburg Musikhalle, Munchen Prinzeregentertheater and Frankfurt Alte Oper. A year later, she was a featured soloist at the World Harp Congress in Geneva, Switzerland.
Varvara has also performed as a soloist with other prestigious orchestras, including Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Primo Allegro Chamber Orchestra and the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.
As of 2005, Ms. Ivanova is studying in the class of E.A. Moskvitina, while keeping a busy performing schedule. Recently, she performed solo and chamber music on a concert tour in Russia under the auspices of the Rostropovich Music Fund.