Star Spot with Yulia Petrova, a highly skilled composer, pianist, and educator

 

From Classical to Contemporary: An Interview with Yulia Petrova, a Highly Skilled Composer, Pianist and Educator

Welcome to this episode of Star Spot! I’m Merry, and in this series, I interview InterContinental Music Awards winners and insiders, bringing you exclusive insights into the music industry. Today, I’m thrilled to have with me Yulia Petrova, our talented winner of 2022.

Yulia Petrova, the InterContinental Music Awards winner and a highly skilled pianist, composer, and educator. In this interview, she shares her inspiring journey and the challenges she faced on her way to becoming a successful artist in the highly competitive world of music contests and competitions.

Starting her musical journey at a young age, Yulia’s exceptional talent for playing the piano and composing songs became evident when she was just five years old. Since then, Yulia Petrova has honed her skills and expanded her musical horizons by studying classical music and exploring different genres, such as rock, blues, fusion, and jazz.

As a result of her hard work and dedication, Yulia has not only won the prestigious InterContinental Music Awards but has also composed original songs for advertising companies and taught music to her own students. In our conversation, she shares her insights into the challenges she faced along the way and the inspirations that have driven her to succeed.

Join us as we delve into the mind of this talented musician and discover what sets her apart in the highly competitive world of music competitions and contests. The full interview is available on Instagram – Click here  to check it out.

 

Could you please introduce yourself and give us a brief biography for those who are just now joining us?

 I’m Yulia Petrova, and was born in Siberia, Russia and attended a specialized music school that only focused on classical music. Despite not being introduced to rock, blues, or jazz, I developed an interest in non-classical music from an early age. However, during that time, we didn’t have much exposure to foreign music in our country, and we only had access to our Estrada music. Occasionally, I would listen to non-classical music, such as the Beatles, at my friend’s house. Despite these challenges, I continued to develop my passion for music and worked hard to pursue my dreams.

 

How did attending a specialized music school shape your musical education, and what challenges did you face due to the limited exposure to non-classical music?

 Attending a specialized music school was an excellent opportunity for me to hone my skills and learn from the best teachers. However, the focus on classical music meant that I didn’t have much exposure to other genres of music, such as rock, blues, or jazz. Additionally, during that time, there was limited access to foreign music in our country. As a result, I had to rely on listening to music at my friend’s house or searching for it through pre-historical records. Despite these challenges, I remained committed to my passion for music and continued to learn and grow as an artist.

 

When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music as a composer and artist?

It was during my early childhood when I was five years old and loved to sing melodies without even realizing what they were. My parents noticed my interest and decided to get a piano for the house. My brother initially tried to learn how to play but didn’t enjoy it. So, they found a teacher for me, and I started to learn how to play the piano. It wasn’t until I started attending a specialized music school that I felt truly blessed and passionate about pursuing a career in music. Even though the school only focused on classical music, I was inspired to learn and eventually began composing my own songs outside of school.

 

What inspired you to make music? What is your inspiration?

 When I was young, I didn’t think a lot about what inspired me to make music. I just had ideas and melodies in my head that I wanted to share with people. As I got older, I began to realize that my talent for music was a gift from God, and I wanted to use that gift to inspire others. My feelings and emotions are my main source of inspiration, and sometimes ideas just come to me naturally. When that happens, I sit down at the piano and try to express myself through the music.

 

How would you describe the music that you create?

I work across different genres and styles, including orchestral music, rock, jazz, and smooth jazz. I have experience working on orchestral music for short films, and I incorporate synthesizers in my work. My current focus is on smooth jazz, as it allows me to express my feelings and emotions through music. Overall, my music is a blend of different styles and influences, and I always try to create something unique and original.

 

How was your experience with  InterContinental Music Awards and what was your takeaway from this experience?

 Participating in the InterContinental Music Awards was an awesome experience. The mentoring sessions were very helpful, and I learned new information that I didn’t know before. Although the experience was short, I would have liked to have a little bit longer because it was such a nice musical conversation. As a beginner in my musical path, I have had some experiences participating in festivals and contests like this, and I cannot remember how I heard about this competition, but I decided to participate in it. I am grateful for the opportunity and the support from the InterContinental Music Awards team, and I feel that they are a part of a family that helps artists out there. I hope to continue this relationship and participate in future competitions.

 

Let’s talk about the challenges you have faced throughout your career. What has been the biggest challenge that you had to overcome?

Every step of my musical career has presented new challenges for me. Being an independent artist has been a major challenge as I have had to handle most of the promotional work on my own. Although I am still figuring out what it truly means to be an independent artist, I understand that I need more information on what to do, where to go, and who to reach out to. So far, I have been doing my best to overcome these challenges and continue to grow as an artist.

 

What is the best advice you have received about your music career? 

The best advice I have received is to be myself and express what I feel. I can learn from different music and people, absorb their techniques and styles, and transform them to make them mine.

 

 What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their music career? 

 My advice would be to never stop and keep doing what you’re called to do, regardless of any circumstances or bad situations. You can turn these experiences into music and use it to help others who may be going through similar situations. Your music can help people emotionally and make them feel better. And most importantly, glorify God by using your talent.

 

What were some of the ups and downs of your music career?

 Some of the good things that happened in my career include being able to record and post my music, participate in contests, and have people enjoy my music. On the other hand, one of the biggest challenges I faced was taking a 10-year break from music due to not having an instrument and being busy with raising my children. It was difficult for me as a composer and musician because I still had the desire to create and share my talent with others.

 

What is next for you? Are you currently working on a new piece?

 I am currently working on releasing my album, which was supposed to be released in September, but it got delayed due to the last song. I hope to release it in December or January. Also, I plan to keep writing, recording my songs, and performing.

 

Finally, do you have any last words you would like to share with our viewers?

Yes, I would like to thank everyone for their support, for the existence of events like this, and for their love and positivity. As musicians, we need to encourage and uplift each other, and I’m grateful for that. I’m also grateful to my listeners, friends, and of course, to God for everything and for my talent. My wish is for everyone to feel encouraged and supported and to serve each other in wonderful ways. Thank you so much.

 

Yulia Petrova Contact Info:

 

Click here to watch Yulia Petrova ‘s  full interview on Instagram 

Merry and Yulia Petrova smiling to the camera during the star spot interview.

InterContinental Music Awards Team

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