Kristine Balanas

Kristīne Balanas (born 8 May 1990) is a Latvian violinist who is a laureate of many international violin competitions.

Early life and education

Balanas received her first violin lessons at the age of seven with Olita Meldere.

The Guardian'''s Joe Staines ranked Balanas as the best violinist at the Bishopsgate Institute's 2009 J&A Beare Solo Bach competition, characterising her performance as "outstanding" and "wonderful." The following year she won second place.

Balanas released a music video in April 2018, of her performing Ysaÿe's "Obsession" from his Second Violin Sonata, and including her "dressing up as a violin-hurling femme fatale surrounded by ballet dancers," according to The Strad. In 2020, she released a music video of her performance of Philip Glass' The Baptism.''

Honors and awards 2004 and 2008, 1st Prize in the Latvian National Competition for Violinists 2010 J & A Beare International Solo Bach Competition, 2nd place 2018, elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music 2018 Premio al Talento Joven of the Excelentia Foundation in Madrid, Spain (Winner)

Personal life Balanas has a younger sister, Margarita, who is a cellist and a brother, Roberts, who is a violinist.