X A N D R I J A, Violinist & Pianist
Solo / Ensemble work / Chamber music
Xandrija regularly performs with various ensembles, currently mostly based in the UK. Ensembles she plays with has included the Lady Godivas, the Crystal Palace Quartet, Liquid Strings and the South Downs Quartet. In February 2015 Xandrija performed solo for the President of Malta and foreign ambassadors in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund. Xandrija performed with the Parva Quartet at the chamber music festivals Classique sur le Roc and Summer music at Thornham in July 2014 . Xandrija's quartet, the Quattromani Quartet has frequent performances and she played regularly with The Colour House Ensemble (resident at Merton Abbey) in addition to other small ensembles. In 2013 Xandrija had the opportunity to perform around the Mediterranean with the London Session Players String Quartet and the Canary Islands and Morocco leading the Rosamunde Quartet in 2015.
Orchestral work
Xandrija freelances with many diverse orchestras, including the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (tutti 1sts), Dartington Festival Orchestra (co-principal 1sts), Orchestre du Centre Philharmonique (soloist), St Paul's Sinfonia and The British Philharmonic Orchestra (tutti 1sts).
TV/Session Work/Shows/Film
Xandrija has performed with Cliff Richards, Boy George, Joseph Calleja, Russell Watson, Lucio Dalla, Anastasia, Hayley Westerna, Orthon Mataragas and the London Community Gospel Choir including TV sessions on BBC Breakfast, the Malta Television channel, Rai and ITV. Xandrija also had many gigs around the UK with Alex Berger before his move to New York. Xandrija is also a member of the ULLAdubULLA orchestra in Jeff Wayne's "War Of The Worlds", including the live DVD recording at the 02 Arena, London 2010. Xandrija can be spotted in the restaurant scene of Angelina Jolie's film, By the Sea - right in between Angie and Brad.
Xandrija is the violinist for Russell Watson's Evolution tour, 2005.
Recordings
Polling Station Productions (23 Frames), Bruce's Fingers (Kaleidozyklen with Simon H. Fell), Matthew Jones Music Ltd (Boy George and the Matthew Jones Orchestra). Xandrija led the Orchestre de Centre Philharmonic on their collaboration with the Jazz formation REQ. Xandrija recorded with St Paul's Sinfonia for Nadine Mortimer Smith at Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles famously recorded.
Opera Work
Gothic Opera's Le Loupe-garou, and Le Sorcier at Hackney Round Chappel (2022) Britten's The Rape of Lucretia with The Elemental Opera string ensemble, Marriage of Figaro with the Dartington Festival Orchestra and Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites with the Orchestre de l'Université de Montréal. In 2012, Xandrija led the Orchestre du Centre Philharmonique for Strauss' The Gypsy Baron and performed with the Opera de Baugé for Puccini'sTosca, Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Gounod's Roméo et Juliette. Most recently, Xandrija was co-leader for St. Paul's Sinfonia's collaboration with Silhouette Opera and Trinity of Laban Conservatoire for Verdi's Otello.
Xandrija (BMus), studied the violin extensively in Leeds, Montreal and London. Her former professors include Dona Lee Croft (Royal College of Music), Cynthia Fleming (BBC Concert Orchestra), Ofer Falk (Allegri Quartet) and Vladimir Llandsman (Université de Montréal).
For current and future projects follow Xandrija on social media.
Touring
Xandrija has travelled the world with her violin, from all over Europe including France, Malta, Italy, Macedonia to the States, to Canada, to China, to Brazil...