With courage and determination, I can say that I‘m very happy because my life is all about music and percussion instruments!
Already in kindergarten age, my music teacher recognized in me, the girl from a village, an excellent talent for music. That’s why she did not advise my parents to visit a regular school, but to send me to the Lyceum at the Conservatory in the capital Minsk. My parents through every possible option, and in the end decided to refuse the idea, they just weren’t able to get me to the city for studying. But as the exam started in this Lyceum, this teacher just took me there on regardless. That was the first big change in my life. I was accepted for the program Zymbaly.
One day after studying for 9 years, I got to hear the magical sounds of a marimba and drum roll in a lyceum concert. From that point on my only desire was to study percussion instruments. There was not a lot of time left before my graduation at the lyceum, but I could not give the thought away that I was not able to master the instrument in that short amount of time!! I was accepted into the percussion class by Ljudmila Klinduhova and I quickly picked up on the ABC of this music. That was my second turn in life. That’s how I found the instrument, which I could play for hours with great pleasure. I was happy to participate at a lot of concerts by the department and the class. Before graduation, I gained First Grade Award at the Republican Mogilev Competition. That same year I joined the Belarusian State Academy of Music, where I was accepted without entrance exams, and held a scholarship by the Special Fund of the President for the support of talented young people. During my studies at the Academy, I actively participated in concerts of the percussion studio, the Faculty, the Academy, performed as a guest with the youth orchestra „Molodaja Belarus“, attended masterclasses and international music festivals and competitions. I’m very proud to have been rewarded with prizes at competitions in Warsaw and Plovdiv, and to have reached the third round at the prestigious 56th ARD International Music Competition in München/Deutschland.After getting married and giving birth to my first child, I attended the VI World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, where I received the personal award by Keiko Abe. My next success I could receive at a masterclass in Lichtenberg, where Prof. Peter Sadlo granted me a scholarship. Mr. Peter Sadlo: „Ms. Semenova has extraordinary talent. Her musicality, her technical requirements and her diligence are eligible“. At the moment, I am glad to hold a position as a member of the President’s Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus. In 2013–2015 I had the opportunity to work as a teacher at the State Academy of Music.
In June 2015, I passed the qualifying examination for a Master’s degree program for orchestral percussion at the Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz with the highest grade. Here I learned a lot, both professional and vital, from my teacher Christian Wissel. And in 2019 I received a master of music degree with the same grade.
In my opinion, music is the most important component of life for anyone. The beneficial effect of music education on the overall development of children has long been proven. Music is a wonderful power. After all, if music can heal the soul and body, isn’t it real magic? There is music therapy - a psychotherapeutic method that uses music as a remedy, and there are cases in the world where, due to music, seriously ill patients have woken up from a coma. Therefore, my personal approach and attitude to music is the most serious, but at the same time reverent, as to something lively. I always try to achieve an optimal performance, while at the same time receiving tremendous pleasure. In the field of education, I also have my own special approach. The overall goal of my teaching is to discover the joy of making music. I want to support students to acquire instrumental skills in a nice, friendly and humane way, that does not cross physical or mental borders. Music should be perceived as enrichment, but not as a burden. Making music enriches every day's life and trains your ability to concentrate.
Already in kindergarten age, my music teacher recognized in me, the girl from a village, an excellent talent for music. That’s why she did not advise my parents to visit a regular school, but to send me to the Lyceum at the Conservatory in the capital Minsk. My parents through every possible option, and in the end decided to refuse the idea, they just weren’t able to get me to the city for studying. But as the exam started in this Lyceum, this teacher just took me there on regardless. That was the first big change in my life. I was accepted for the program Zymbaly.
One day after studying for 9 years, I got to hear the magical sounds of a marimba and drum roll in a lyceum concert. From that point on my only desire was to study percussion instruments. There was not a lot of time left before my graduation at the lyceum, but I could not give the thought away that I was not able to master the instrument in that short amount of time!! I was accepted into the percussion class by Ljudmila Klinduhova and I quickly picked up on the ABC of this music. That was my second turn in life. That’s how I found the instrument, which I could play for hours with great pleasure. I was happy to participate at a lot of concerts by the department and the class. Before graduation, I gained First Grade Award at the Republican Mogilev Competition. That same year I joined the Belarusian State Academy of Music, where I was accepted without entrance exams, and held a scholarship by the Special Fund of the President for the support of talented young people. During my studies at the Academy, I actively participated in concerts of the percussion studio, the Faculty, the Academy, performed as a guest with the youth orchestra „Molodaja Belarus“, attended masterclasses and international music festivals and competitions. I’m very proud to have been rewarded with prizes at competitions in Warsaw and Plovdiv, and to have reached the third round at the prestigious 56th ARD International Music Competition in München/Deutschland.After getting married and giving birth to my first child, I attended the VI World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, where I received the personal award by Keiko Abe. My next success I could receive at a masterclass in Lichtenberg, where Prof. Peter Sadlo granted me a scholarship. Mr. Peter Sadlo: „Ms. Semenova has extraordinary talent. Her musicality, her technical requirements and her diligence are eligible“. At the moment, I am glad to hold a position as a member of the President’s Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus. In 2013–2015 I had the opportunity to work as a teacher at the State Academy of Music.
In June 2015, I passed the qualifying examination for a Master’s degree program for orchestral percussion at the Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz with the highest grade. Here I learned a lot, both professional and vital, from my teacher Christian Wissel. And in 2019 I received a master of music degree with the same grade.
In my opinion, music is the most important component of life for anyone. The beneficial effect of music education on the overall development of children has long been proven. Music is a wonderful power. After all, if music can heal the soul and body, isn’t it real magic? There is music therapy - a psychotherapeutic method that uses music as a remedy, and there are cases in the world where, due to music, seriously ill patients have woken up from a coma. Therefore, my personal approach and attitude to music is the most serious, but at the same time reverent, as to something lively. I always try to achieve an optimal performance, while at the same time receiving tremendous pleasure. In the field of education, I also have my own special approach. The overall goal of my teaching is to discover the joy of making music. I want to support students to acquire instrumental skills in a nice, friendly and humane way, that does not cross physical or mental borders. Music should be perceived as enrichment, but not as a burden. Making music enriches every day's life and trains your ability to concentrate.