Rising Teen Star Evgenia Shubina
Mini bio:Evgenia Shubina is a student at the Central Music School — Academy of Performing Arts (in the class of Associate Professor Sergei Zhuravel), and a laureate of more than 80 international and allRussian competitions, including the gold medal at the Youth Delphic Games, as well as competitions in France, Austria, and Turkey. As a soloist, she has performed at leading venues in Russia — the Bolshoi Theatre, the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Moscow International House of Music, and the Mariinsky Theatre — and with the orchestras “Virtuosi of Moscow,” “Tavrichesky,” and “Vremena Goda” (“The Seasons”). She is a musician of the AllRussian Youth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Yuri Bashmet.
1) How old are you and where are you from?
I am 16 years old, and I’m from Moscow If you’ve never been to Russia, I invite you to come: we have very beautiful nature, a rich cultural life, and incredibly hospitable people!
2) Where and with whom are you studying?
I study at the Central Music School — Academy of Performing Arts, in the class of Associate Professor Sergei Zhuravel. He is the principal flutist of the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under the renowned Vladimir Spivakov.
Sergei Zhuravel is an amazing teacher and person: he never raises his voice, he’s very witty, and if I truly deserve it, he might offer a very subtle piece of irony. But most importantly, he is a true professional who genuinely cares about his students — not only about their artistic growth but also about their health and emotional wellbeing. He’s a very wise man and helps us immensely in all sorts of life situations. I am so grateful to him!
3) How and why did you choose the flute?
When it came time to choose a musical instrument for my education, I really wanted to learn the harp, but the school didn’t offer it. Then I considered the violin, but my mom, recalling how her friend’s lessons sounded like “scraping on glass,” asked me to spare her ears.
The flute seemed like a good option for another reason too: it’s beneficial for the respiratory system and helps develop diaphragmatic breathing. That’s why I started playing the recorder — initially for health reasons, among other activities. At the same time, I was seriously involved in synchronized swimming, training 6 days a week for 5–6 hours.
Everything changed after I met Sofia Viland. My first teacher, Victoria Ungureanu, invited me to the audition rounds of the Tchaikovsky Competition in St. Petersburg. There, I heard Sofia Viland perform for the first time — and I immediately knew I wanted to be a flutist. Since then, I’ve lived for music and the flute. Sofia not only supports, critiques, and helps me, but she’s also become a dear friend — not just to me, but to my whole family. We love her so much! She’s an extraordinary and incredibly important person in my life.
4) What is your dream as a flutist?
I plan to get a solid education and will do my best to improve my skills and knowledge. I dream of meeting outstanding flutists from around the world and of working in a great orchestra. I want people, when they listen to me, to pause for a moment and simply feel something — joy, sadness, hope. I dream of continuing to share that emotion on different stages, so that people feel a little more warmth and light in their hearts.
5) What does your schedule look like for the next 6 months?
Right now, the most important thing for me is to study: this is a crucial time that I mustn’t waste. Of course, there will also be concerts and competitions, but my main focus now is on learning.
6) What are your goals personally? Professionally?
Personally, I want to stay curious and true to myself. Professionally, I aim to grow as a musician and to learn from the best.
7) What inspires you the most in life?
What inspires me most is the silence in the concert hall when the audience is hanging on every note. I’m inspired by concerts, deeply expressive musicians, films, nature, the sound of the sea, and animals — I absolutely love cats. I’m also inspired by paintings: my favorite artists are Vrubel and Klimt. And by composers in whose every phrase there’s a story to tell: Mozart, Ravel, Rachmaninoff. Travel, architecture, and, of course, people — openhearted and kind people — inspire me too.
8) What has been your greatest professional challenge?
The biggest challenge is fitting everything into one day: a lesson, a rehearsal, working on a new program, preparing for a competition. Learning not to chase speed but to preserve quality and take care of my wellbeing is an everyday task.
10) What 3 pieces of advice would you give to a young flutist under 15?
-You need to practice a lot: results don’t come without effort.
-Listen to more than just the flute — listen to the violin, to the human voice, to the rain, to the silence. The broader your ear, the richer your playing.
- Love what you do, and don’t be afraid to play in your own way. Technique is a tool, but it’s your soul that people come to hear.
I feel so lucky to have found my calling.
The flute is like an extension of me, like an arm or a leg. When I pick it up, something magical happens — the whole world seems to stand still.
There’s something incredibly beautiful about the way a sound is born, how it fills the space, and how it resonates in people’s hearts. It helps me understand my own emotions better.
The path isn’t always easy, but when you hear how music touches people’s hearts, you realize it’s all worth it. Being a musician isn’t just a profession; it’s a chance to make the world a little kinder and brighter.
Thank you so much for having me and for this warm atmosphere! You’ve helped me realize once again what amazing people surround me and how wonderful life is.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish everyone kindness and beautiful music!