Eva Kochenkova – Russian-Danish Cellist and Artist

"Wonderful playing with great sense of style." - Zubin Mehta

“An accomplished artist"- The Strad

Education

Eva Kochenkova, a Russian-Danish cellist, began her musical journey at the age of six in Tchaikovsky, USSR. By the age of nine, she had already won First Prizes in several national competitions. At thirteen, she moved to Moscow to pursue advanced cello studies at the Gnessin High School of Music under Prof. Galina Zubareva, with guidance from Prof. Natalia Shakhovskaya. She continued her studies with Prof. Rocco Filippini at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, Italy. In 2002, she undertook master’s studies with Prof. Wolfgang Böttcher in Baden-Baden, Germany. In 2004, she completed postgraduate soloist training under Prof. Johannes Goritzki at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany, and further honed her craft in the soloist class at the Danish Royal Academy of Music with Prof. Henrik Brandstrup. Eva has also participated in masterclasses with eminent cellists, including Mstislav Rostropovich, David Geringas, George Faust, and Karine Georgian, and received high praise from Maestro Zubin Mehta.

Career

At eighteen, Eva Kochenkova was appointed Solo Cellist of the Chamber Orchestra "Guido Cantelli" under the direction of Alberto Veronesi in Milan. In 1996, she also worked as a model for renowned Italian designer Giorgio Armani. Eva has performed as a soloist with the European Music Project Ensemble (Berlin), the United Europe Chamber Orchestra (Milan), and the Ensemble Instrumental with George Vassilev (guitar) and James Crabb (accordion) in Switzerland. She has appeared regularly at the P&O Music Festival at Sea, hosted by BBC presenters Richard Baker and Humphrey Burton. Her chamber music collaborations include a piano trio with violinist and composer Soren Elbaek and pianist/producer Morten Mogensen, the piano quartet Forum Musicum, and a duo with pianist Morten Mogensen, performing extensively across Denmark and Europe. Her breathtaking solo album of Italian virtuoso sonatas was hailed as ‘Disc of the Month’ and received rave reviews from prestigious international publications, including the world-renowned Strad magazine. In recent years, Eva has dedicated herself to charity performances, collaborating with Royal Theatre ballet dancer Mie Fjelstrup to perform at hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices, with support from Copenhagen municipalities. Eva performs on an Italian Stradivari Duport-model cello, crafted in 1968 by the renowned violinmaker Sesto Rocchi, and uses gut strings.

Teaching

With over thirty years of teaching experience, Eva Kochenkova emphasizes joy, technical development, and artistic sensitivity in her students. She fosters individual growth, encouraging intuitive understanding alongside technical mastery. Since 2007, she has taught cello as a solo instrument at various institutions, guiding students to national and international competition success. Her students have won numerous prizes, including the Gade Prize and Legate in Denmark, and have advanced to prestigious institutions such as the Paris Conservatoire (France), Berlin School of the Arts (Germany), and the Royal Academy of Music (Copenhagen, Denmark).

Eva speaks different languages, as: Russian, Danish, English and Italian.

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Soundtracks

Locatelli: Sonata in D major

Adagio

Locatelli: Sonata in D major

Minuetto

Valentini: Sonata in E major

Allegro

Donizetti: Largo in g minor

Visual Arts

In addition to music, Eva is a dedicated visual artist. Her drawings and paintings explore the depth of color and form, capturing moments when time slows and daily distractions fade. Her work reflects the energy of thought and desire, creating forms that resonate with both emotion and imagination.

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