Artist Advocacy Series/V-Pals Series Interview:

Artist Advocacy Series/V-Pals Performance Feature:

Adeliia Faizullina

Adeliia Faizullina is a composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist from Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. Described as a composer “with a particular ear for cutting-edge vocal colors and an affinity for the music and poetry of Tatar folklore”, Adeliia also writes virtuoso music for chamber and symphonic genres. Her works have been performed in concerts by leading artists such Duo Cortona-mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway and violinist Ari Streisfeld. She has also previously collaborated with Invoke quartet, New Music Ensemble of The University of Texas at Austin, Density512, SoundSpace of Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art, State Academic Choir of Tatarstan, the State string quartet of Tatarstan, and Kozjevnicov’s Moscow Choir. A new work for wind symphony orchestra with choir was commissioned by Density512 for their 2018-2019 season. She is currently writing for soprano Tony Arnold and guitarist Manuel Barrueco.  

Adeliia is a current composer fellow and a recipient of the Cynthia Jackson Ford Fellowship of Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music. She is the winner of the Radio Orpheus Young Composers Competition, Moscow, Russia, 2018(1st prize), Finalist of International Rostrum of Composers, 2018, VII International contest-festival "Renaissance", Gyumri, Armenia, 2015 (1st prize), The International contemporary music festival "Moscow Autumn", Moscow, Russia, 2013. Adeliia’s music has been broadcasted in Australia by ABC Classic FM, and in Russia by Orpheus Radio. She is also supported by the Tatarstan Government for her studies.

Adeliia is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California, studying with Nina C. Young. She recently received a master’s degree in composition from The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music (2016-2018), where she studied with Yevgeniy Sharlat and Dan Welcher. She completed her undergraduate studies in composition with honor at Gnesins Academy of Music, Moscow, Russia (2011-2016), where she studied with Alexei Larin, an honored artist of Russia. She also holds a bachelor’s degree of music in vocal arts from Auhadeev Music College, Kazan, Russia (2005-2009), where she studied with Raida Ermohina, an honored artist of Russia. 

Aside from composing, Adeliia is a versatile performing artist. As a vocalist, she studied with Darlene Wiley, the head of the faculty of Vocal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music, and previously with Raida Ermohina, an honored artist of Russia. Adeliia previously performed in masterclasses and concerts. She performed her works including Tatar Folk Tales for voice and chamber orchestra, Soo Anaso (Mermaid) for voice and chamber ensemble, and Strain to Shine for voice, trombone, and percussion. As a pianist, Adeliia has won 1st prize at the Zhiganov Young Pianist Competition of Kazan Conservatory (2004). She has studied piano under the honored artist of Tatarstan, Ramziya Galiyeva, and previously under the honored artist of Tatarstan, Yevgeniya Burunina, in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. Adeliia also studied and performed sitar under professor Stephen Slawek, the disciple of Pt. Ravi Shankar. She is also Tatar folk instrument quray performer and improviser and premiers her own music for quray.  

Adeliia is also committed to sharing her experiences with other visually impaired musicians. She is an active member of the All-Russian-Society-of-The Blind, participates in their public concerts as a composer and vocalist. Recently, Adeliia made a presentation in Kazan about her experience being visually impaired composer and artist, to encourage families who have children with visual disability. She was a presenter at a Society of the Blind in New Deli, India, and also gave a recital as a composer in the festival The Art of Good dedicated to artists and musicians with disabilities.