Bio

Since winning the All-Ukrainian competition in 1981, cellist Natalia Khoma has won top prizes at the Budapest Pablo Casals Competition (1985), Marneukirchen (Germany, 1987) and the Tchaikovsky (Moscow, 1990) International Competitions, as well as First prize at the 1990 Belgrade International Cello Competition.

A native of Lviv, Ukraine, Ms. Khoma studied at the Lviv Central Music School and the Lviv Conservatory with Evhen Shpitzer and from 1982 until 1990 at the Moscow Conservatory with Professor Natalia Shakhovskaya. In the United States, Ms. Khoma was awarded the Artist Diploma of the Boston University under the direction of Professor, Leslie Parnas.

The first and only Ukrainian cellist to have won at the Tchaikovsky Competition, she has since distinguished herself as a recitalist and soloist with orchestras thorough the former USSR, as well as USA, Canada, South America, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, South Africa and the Middle and Far East.

Natalia Khoma has performed as a soloist with such leading ensembles as the Berlin Radio Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Radio Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Ensemble of New York City Symphony Orchestra, Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and has had solo recitals and performed in Tchaikovsky Hall (Moscow), Merkin Hall and Weill Recital Hall (New York), Jordan Hall and Tsai Performance Center (Boston), Krannert Center (Illinois),Wharton Center (Michigan), Schauspielhaus (Berlin), Palais des Beux Arts (Brussels), Amphitheatre Richelieu de la Sorbonne, Salons de Boffrand de la Presidence du Senat (Paris), Linder Auditorium (Johannesburg), Baxter Theatre Centre Concert Hall (Cape Town), Grand Halls of the Franz Liszt Music Academy (Hungary) and Oslo Music Academy (Norway), Teatro de Santa Isabel (Recife,) among many others.

Recital and chamber music appearances have included guest invitations in the International Festivals in Switzerland (St Gallen International Festival), , Germany ("International Women’s Festival" in Hamburg), Spain (“'Pau Casals', El Vendrell”;” Torroella De Montgri”; “de la Vila de Llivia”), France (Masters de Pontlevoy), Brazil l (“Virtuosi”), USA (LWMF, Mohonk Festival of the Arts, El Paso Chamber Music Festival, Lake San Marcos Chamber Music Society, Music and Art of Greene County, SpringFest in Ann Arbor, BargeMusic, Festival of the Hamptons, Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston etc.) and Canada (Niagara International Chamber Music Festival), her annual appearance as the Artist-in-Residence in the ‘Music at the Institute’ Series in New York.

With performances which have been hailed around the world as “technically dazzling”, “intense, brilliant, and with perfect structure”, “full warm cello tone….and, what a drive!” and, “the precision of her executions, Slavic Zen”, Natalia Khoma made her first public appearance on TV at age ten and performed her first concerto with the orchestra at age thirteen. Ms. Khoma was a Professor at the Lviv Conservatory (Ukraine), Roosevelt University College of Music in Chicago, Michigan State University and was a visiting Professor of University of Connecticut School of Music.

In November 1992; she was invited to be a head of the Jury at the First International Lysenko Competition in Kyiv, Ukraine; in November 2007 she performed with Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra at the opening concert of the same Competition.

Ms. Khoma has recorded for NHK-TV (Japan) and made CD recordings for Cambria, Blue Griffin, IMP, Naxos and Ongaku labels, as well as for Ukrainian, Russian German, Spanish, Yugoslavian, Israeli, and Hungarian Radio and Television, WNYC-FM in New York and WGBH-FM in Boston.

In addition to her performing activities, Natalia Khoma is a Professor of cello at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC and co-Director of Charleston Music Fest (www.CharlestonMusicFest.com).

She serves as organizer of the Children and Music Foundation, which provides music training, instruments and financial aid to young, gifted Ukrainian music students in need.

In October 2008 Natalia Khoma was awarded a title - Honorary Professor of Lviv Academy of Music Lviv, Ukraine.

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