Sergey Levitin

Sergey Levitin is an internationally acclaimed violinist and concertmaster, recognized for his artistry, leadership, and versatility across orchestral, solo, and chamber music. A native of Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), he trained under some of the world’s most distinguished violin pedagogues, including Aaron Knaifel, Mark Komissarov, Mikhail Gantvarg, and Vladimir Ovcharek, before refining his craft under the esteemed Professor Igor Ozim.

In 1996, at the age of 23, he was appointed as Concertmaster of the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra by Valery Gergiev. During his tenure, he toured extensively across the world and contributed to major recordings for Philips Classics and Decca, with highlights including Shostakovich’s symphonies and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. As a soloist, he performed under the baton of Valery Gergiev and Gianandrea Noseda in the USA, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, and at prestigious festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival and the “White Nights” Festival in St. Petersburg, where he appeared with the Wiener Streichersolisten.

A dedicated chamber musician, Sergey was a founding member of the Hermitage String Trio, which he established in 2004 alongside Leonid Gorokhov (cello) and Alexander Zemtsov (viola). During his tenure with the ensemble until 2007, he contributed significantly to its artistic development, helping to shape its reputation as one of the most celebrated chamber groups of its kind. His deep commitment to chamber music continues to be a defining aspect of his career.

For the past two decades, Sergey has been leading the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, where he is currently concertmaster. Throughout his career, he garnered numerous accolades, becoming a prize winner at national and international violin and chamber music competitions, including Lipizer international violin competition and Paganini international violin competition in Genoa where he was also awarded the Renato de Barbieri Prize for the best interpretation of Paganini’s capriccios. His extensive performance career has taken him to leading venues across the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Spain, including multiple appearances at Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, and the Royal Opera House, to name just a few.

As the founder of the highly respected chamber ensemble Chamber Principals of London, Sergey has brought together some of the finest musicians in the UK, creating a dynamic and versatile ensemble. The group made a truly remarkable and unforgettable debut at the Teatro Verdi di Salerno in Italy, receiving resounding acclaim. Their artistry, precision, and passion have quickly established them as a leading chamber ensemble.

He has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Sir Antonio Pappano, Alison Balsom, Piers Lane, Alexei Volodin, Nikolai Demidenko, and Petr Popelka. As a recording artist for Dutton Epoch, he has worked closely with the acclaimed British conductor Martin Yates on a series of world premiere recordings of violin concertos, appearing as a soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, BBC Concert Orchestra, and English Chamber Orchestra. His chamber music collaborations include world premiere recordings of previously unrecorded works by the French composer Paul Lacombe, alongside highly regarded and widely respected musicians such as Josephine Knight, Victor Sangiorgio, and Rachel Roberts, all of whom are considered leading figures in the industry.

Beyond his work as a soloist and chamber musician, Sergey is in high demand as a guest concertmaster, regularly leading some of Europe’s finest orchestras, including the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.

In recent years, Sergey has been requested on multiple occasions to serve as "Commissario esterno" at Teatro Regio, bringing his expertise and deep artistic insight to one of Italy’s most revered opera houses. In 2025, he expands this role to the Teatro di San Carlo, further solidifying his reputation as a respected authority in the field.

A passionate educator, Sergey has been invited to lead orchestral workshops as well as violin workshops at leading institutions, including the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. His wealth of experience, artistry, and leadership continue to inspire young musicians and shape the next generation of performers. Sergey will join the teaching faculty at the Royal Welsh College in Spring 2025. With his distinguished career spanning solo, chamber, and orchestral performance, Sergey Levitin continues to captivate audiences and inspire musicians worldwide through his performances, recordings, and collaborations.