Viktoriya Yermolyeva

Viktoriya Yermolyeva (Ukrainian: Вікторія Єрмольєва, born 2 November[1] 1978, also known as vkgoeswild and Vika) is a German pianist born in Ukraine. In her early career she studied and played classical music, winning several awards. Later, she became known for piano covers of famous rock and heavy metal songs.[2]

Vika Yermolyeva
Birth nameViktoriya Yermolyeva
Born (1978-11-02) 2 November 1978
Kiev, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union[1]
GenresClassical, rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Pianist
InstrumentsPiano, digital piano vocals keyboard synthesizer
LabelsVikatine Productions
Associated actsBrian Viglione
Websitewww.vkgoeswild.com

Career

Yermolyeva started playing piano at the age of 4.[1] After studying at the Tchaikovsky Music Academy in Ukraine (2000), she completed her graduate studies at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT in Weimar, and the International Piano Academy "Incontri col Maestro" in Imola, Italy, with the famous pianist Lazar Berman. Further studies took her to the Codarts Academy of Music and Modern Dance, at Rotterdam Conservatory, Netherlands.[3]

In the early classical phase of her career, she won a variety of piano competitions, such as 1st Prize at "Filippo Trevisan" competition for Piano Interpretation in Italy, winner of The Grachtenfestival 2005 Amsterdam, 1st Prize at 35th International Competition "Vincenzo Bellini" in Italy, 1st Prize at 20th International Piano Competition "Citta di Marsala", 1st Prize at International Piano Competition “Citta' Di Trani”, 1st Prize at 4th Sigismund Thalberg International Competition, and the Grand Prix at 9th Pierre Lantier International Music Competition in duet with V. Dmitriev (flute) in France.[3]

In 2003, Yermolyeva explored jazz music and studied with Leonid Chizhik.[4]

Since 2008, she has focused her career on playing rock music, concentrating on heavy metal covers by many famous metal bands. Her web videos have over 80 million views.[4]

On 29 January 2011 she performed her first live rock concert in Reykjavík, Iceland (VIGGIE & VIKA: Live in Iceland) collaborating with drummer Brian Viglione.

In 2016, Yermolyeva released an album that was a mix of covers and original compositions.[5] It was funded via the crowdfunding platform PledgeMusic, and was entitled "Fan's Edition".[6]

In 2020, Yermolyeva released the album Happiness is not the Point consisting of original compositions. On the album she plays the piano as well as providing singing parts as well as spoken words.

Personal life

Yermolyeva currently resides in Koblenz with her pets. She enjoys pottery and gardening. Yermolyeva speaks Russian, English and German.


Awards
  • 2004 – Sigismund Thalberg International Piano Prize, Naples, 4th Edition (First prize) [7]
  • 2005 – Grachtenfestival, Codarts, Rotterdam (winner of the Jury Prize)[8]

References
  1. vkgoeswild-Studioreport. The Blog Of Rock. Vol. 52. 15 June 2015
  2. "A girl with magical fingers" (43). Wave Magazine. May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Biography". Yermolyeva.com. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  4. VkGoesWild. Yermolyeva.com. Retrieved on 3 February 2018.
  5. Vika* – Fan's Edition (CD, Album) at Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved on 3 February 2018.
  6. Vkgoeswild: Vika's Fan Edition. PledgeMusic (23 March 2016). Retrieved on 3 February 2018.
  7. (in Italian) Centro Studi Internazionale Sigismund Thalberg. Centrothalberg.it (1 September 2003). Retrieved on 3 February 2018.
  8. Grachtenfestival. Grachtenfestival.nl. Retrieved on 3 February 2018.


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