Kotryna Regina Siugzdinyte started to play the cello at the age of six, after entering the National M.K.Ciurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius, Lithuania. Her teachers there were Ramute Kalnenaite and Romanas Armonas. After successful auditions, in 2013 Kotryna started her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, United Kingdom, where she is learning from the internationally renowned Karine Georgian and Philip Higham.
Throughout her career Kotryna has won various national and international level competitions, including 1st Prizes in R.Urba (2011) and R.Katilius (2013) competitions in Vilnius and a 2nd Place in the International A.Glazunov Strings Competition in Paris, France (2012). Her accomplishments as a soloist include performances with St.Christopher’s Chamber Orchestra, Klaipeda City Chamber Orchestra and an evening appearance at the National Philharmonia with the National M.K.Ciurlionis School of Arts Symphony Orchestra.
Kotryna actively participates in masterclasses. She has been blessed to play for such world-renowned artists as R.Kirshbaum, E.Testelec, G.Sollima, M.Predelia, C.Stinson and H.Roberts. In October 2013 Kotryna was awarded a scholarship to participate in the masterclass of David Geringas, which took place as part of eminent Usedomer Musik Festival in Usedom, Germany.
Chamber music plays an important role in her life. She has spent several years as a member of a Piano Trio and with her String Quartet was awarded a 3rd Place (2012) in the International ‘Pavasario Sonata’ Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 2015 she and pianist Ugnius Pauliukonis gave a concert tour throughout Lithuania as part of the ‘Iuvenes Art’ festival.
Her experience in orchestral performance is fast growing. She was the Principal Cellist at the National M.K.Ciurlionis School of Arts Symphony Orchestra, actively takes part in projects led by conductors Robert Guy (NEW Sinfonia) and Ricardas Sumila (Lithuanian Youth Orchestra), as well as various RNCM Orchestras and Klaipeda City Chamber Orchestra.
An important mission for a performer Kotryna believes to be collaborations with rising composers. She has played in premieres of works by Roy Watkins and Aled Smith, and is now in a process of recording a new piece for cello solo by Dominykas Digimas, dedicated to her.
