Paula Gorbanova is an award-winning violinist based in London, celebrated for her versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral leader, and educator. She is regularly invited to perform with and lead ensembles worldwide. Recent highlights include appearances at the Vielklang Festival (Germany), Artematica Festival, the Cambridge Summer Music Festival, and the Uppermill Music Festival. In the UK, she has performed at major venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Cadogan Hall, the Barbican, St James’ Piccadilly, and Southwark Cathedral. International engagements have taken her to iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Grafenegg and the Berlin Konzerthaus.

During the 2025/2026 season, Paula has collaborated with the Cambridge Camerata Academy, cellist Brian O’Kane, and British conductor and keyboardist Douglas Tang. Upcoming engagements include performances with the London Mozart Players, the Gorbanoff Quartet, and appearances at the Cambridge Summer Music Festival, amongst other venues in Europe. Paula enjoys a busy recital schedule and will be opening Autumn recitals series at Romsey Abbey and St Michaels Highgate in Autumn 2025.

Born in Riga, Paula began her musical education at the prestigious Emīls Dārziņš Music School, whose alumni include Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, and Andris Nelsons. She graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with First Class Honours and Distinction, where she studied under the tutelage of Prof. Jacqueline Ross and gained a First Class Bachelor of Music and Master of Performance degrees, both with distinction.

She has received multiple awards including the Ivan Sutton Chamber Music Prize (2024) and the ULSA Sonderpreis at the Queen Sophie-Charlotte International Violin Competition (2022). Paula is also a recipient of the Wolfson Foundation Instrument Award that allowed her to purchase a violin bow by Jeans Paulus, and with the help of Albert Cooper Music Charitable Trust, she is able to play on a fine 19th century Italian violin.

Her global career includes concerto work and residencies with leading orchestras such as the Vielklang Festival Orchestra (Germany), Athens Philharmonic Orchestra (Greece), Master Orchestra (Italy), the Odyssey Festival Orchestra (UK), and the City of London Soloists (UK).

An accomplished chamber musician, Paula has won awards as a member of the Chiarina Quartet and founded the Gorbanoff Quartet in 2018, with which she continues to perform internationally. She regularly participates in outreach projects to share her ideas and insights with up-and-coming musicians. To find more about teaching, please follow here.

She has participated in masterclasses with Pierre Amoyal, Nicola Benedetti, Tasmin Little, Friedemann Eichhorn, Tobias Granmo, and Wolfgang Redik, and has worked closely with the Chilingirian, Dante, Endellion, and Heath Quartets. Paula has also performed under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, Baldur Brönnimann, Vassily Sinaisky, Marin Alsop, and Normunds Vaicis.

As an educator and entrepreneur, Paula is deeply committed to musical outreach and community engagement. She became an Artist of the Talent Unlimited Charity in 2017 and was appointed Trustee in 2024.

Since 2021, she has served as Head of Strings at Wetherby Senior School. She also founded her own music academy, whose students have won competitions and festivals and gained admission to leading UK institutions including Purcell School, St Paul’s Girls’ School, North London Collegiate School, Dulwich College, James Allen’s Girls’ School, King’s College Wimbledon, and Wells Cathedral School.

Paula currently teaches violin at the Centre for Young Musicians (Guildhall Young Artists) and previously held a teaching position at the Blackheath Conservatoire.

She is grateful to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Help Musicians UK, The Stephen Bell Charitable Trust, Henry Wood Trust, Albert Cooper Music Charitable Trust, Wolfson Foundation and Talent Unlimited for their generous support throughout her study years.