Ivan

Ivan is an accomplished clarinetist with an impressive blend of performance and teaching experience. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, earning a First Class BMus with a full scholarship and continuing with a Master of Arts (Distinction, DipRam) under the Hill Foundation Scholarship. He has trained with leading clarinetists including Christopher Richards, Mark van de Wiel, Benjamin Mellefont, Sonia Sielaff, Chi-Yu Mo, and Laurent Slimane.

Teaching experience
Ivan has been teaching in London for more than five years, guiding clarinet students through all ABRSM grades up to diploma level, and piano students up to grades 6–7. He loves sharing his passion for the clarinet and helping each student achieve their personal goals. At the start of lessons, he works with students to set clear targets—whether that’s excelling in exams, developing strong technique, or simply discovering the joy of playing. He sees exams as a great way to set goals and track progress, but he also makes sure lessons go beyond the syllabus so that students develop a real love for music and confidence in performing.

What makes Ivan unique as a teacher is his genuine passion for the instrument—it has always been a central part of his life, and he loves passing that enthusiasm on to his students. He encourages students to explore pieces they love and nurtures curiosity and creativity alongside developing a strong technique. Drawing on the expertise of his distinguished teachers, Ivan has developed his own teaching style, combining technical guidance with expressive musicality. Many of his students have passed their grades with distinctions and merits, and some have gone on to study at the Junior Academy.

Performing experience
Ivan has performed with leading orchestras including:
• London Symphony Orchestra (extra work, scholar, 2025)
• Britten Sinfonia (extra work, 2025)
• Orpheus Sinfonia (fellowship and extra work, 2025)
• BBC National Orchestra of Wales (trial, 2023–2024)
• Royal Opera & Ballet (2024, extra work)
• Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (extra list)
• Sinfonia Smith Square (2024–2025, formerly Southbank Sinfonia)
• London Firebird Orchestra (2022)

He has also participated in side-by-side orchestral training projects with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (2024), Britten Sinfonia (2025), and London Sinfonietta (2021, 2023), and has been a member of the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra (2019–present), Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra (2018–2020), and Britten-Shostakovich Festival Orchestra (2020).

Awards and competitions
Ivan’s achievements include:
• Countess of Munster Musical Trust Award (2023)
• Drake Calleja Scholarship (2022)
• Hattori Foundation Senior Awards (2019, 2020)
• Cherubim Trust awards (London, 2019–2024)
• Gartow Foundation awards (Germany, 2017–2019)
• Special Talent at the International Music Festival “Clarinetissimo” (Bruges, Belgium, 2019)

He has also been recognised in competitions, including:
• Highly commended, Craxton Chamber Music Competition with “Hiraeth” trio (2023)
• 1st Prize, Buffet Crampon Competition (London, 2021)
• Winner, National Competition “Bolshiyanov” (Krasnodar, Russia, 2017)
• Winner, International Clarinet Competition Weber Clarinet (Russia, 2017)
• 1st Prize in Chamber Music, International Competition Dolzhikova (Moscow, 2018)

With Ivan’s guidance, students of all levels can build confidence, develop their skills, and discover the joy of playing music, drawing inspiration from his exceptional talent and growing reputation as a professional clarinetist.