Olga Kotova has been a violinist of the First Violin Section with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 1996. Originally from Russia, she is an Honours Diploma graduate of the prestigious Moscow Central Music School and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She has been performing as a soloist with Russian Orchestras since the age of 14, and became a semi-finalist of the Belgrad International Music Competition in Yugoslavia and the Louis Spohr International Competition in Freiburg, Germany. Kotova is also a graduate of the University of Calgary’s masters program in violin performance and the Banff Centre music performance programs.
Kotova has mantained an active performing schedule as a violinist of Duo Solista, together with her husband and Honens Competition Laureate pianist Dmitry Nesterov. She has also been a member of numerous chamber ensembles and has been featured as a soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic on several occasions.