Biography
Born into a family of piano-makers, Anna’s immersion in music began from an early age. At just six years old, she was accepted into music school, demonstrating early talent as a singer and pianist. Her journey continued at DK Viborgsky in St. Petersburg, where she honed her skills as a jazz singer, music theorist and later harpist.
By the age of 16, Anna was deepening her expertise at the Music Teacher Training College in St. Petersburg, earning a qualification in music education. While the breadth of this education was vast, Anna's focus remained steadfast on theoretical disciplines and the rich tapestry of music history. This led Anna to later undertake a Bachelor in Music (honours) at the Royal conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
During her school years (1999-2009), Anna emerged as a talented young musician. Her presence became a staple at concerts, where she was not only a leading singer but also a dynamic stage performer. This period was marked by numerous accolades in competitions, highlighting her growing talent. Despite a brief hiatus post-school due to unforeseen circumstances, Anna's passion for music remained undimmed. Her college years saw a revival of her singing career, both as a solo artist and in choirs.
Today, Anna Grig is a vibrant, freelance composer enjoying a busy performance and premiere schedule, as well as teaching and community music projects. Her journey from a young music enthusiast to a dedicated musician reflects not only her innate talent but also a deep-seated love for creating new music that resonates and inspires.
A pivotal moment in Anna's musical journey occurred in 2006 when she began studying composition under the tutelage of Sofia Levkovskaya, a distinguished composer at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. This experience was complemented by her studies in counterpoint, harmony, musicology, and harp. Anna's commitment to composition deepened through consultations with Sergei Slonimsky in 2009.
Anna's passion for composition was further fueled at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Summer School in 2013. Under the guidance of Gordon McPherson and Rory Boyle, she set to transform her beloved hobby into a life-long ambition: to become a professional composer. This resolve led her to enrol to the conservatoire as a Bachelor of Composition Student.
The conservatoire years were filled with extraordinary opportunities and allowed Anna to build professional confidence and connections. Through out the studies Anna enjoyed many premieres of her works, most noted of which are “Nebula” for solo piano and “Decent into madness” for a large ensemble. While at the conservatoire an old passion for Harp was also reignited, which culminated in a composition of a harp concerto.
Following graduation from the Royal Conservatoire Anna was fortunate to indulge in a few years of work as a film composer with an occasional premiere in a concert setting.