Degree: MA, Musical Art
Styles: Classical, Pop, Ethnic
Interests: Music, Internet, Travelling
Lana Plahina was born in 1979. She is now playing mandolin for 14 years, but her
musical education started with the piano at the age of 5. Four years later she started
to attend the Musical School. After successfully finishing school and winning her
first prizes in regional competitions, she decided to continue her musical education
first at the Musical College (1994-98), then at the Music Academy (1998-2003). Her
composition "Duo fantastic" for mandolin and piano, based on ethnic elements, took
third place in a competition for compositions and transcriptions in 2002.
Graduating in 2003, Lana Plahina finished her master course with a MA degree a year
later. Subsequently she attended various master classes with several eminent musicians
from all over the world. She has so far taken part in international competitions in Germany,
Japan, Russia and Italy. In 2006 she became laureate of the prestigious international competition
for mandolinists "Premio Calace" in Pignola (Italy) and has played many acclaimed
concerts in Europe and overseas over the last years. Her repertoire currently includes
compositions by L. van Beethoven, E. Mezzacapo, G. Leone, S. Navata, R. Calace,
S. Ranieri, J. Nacano, G. B. Gervasio, Y. Kuwahara, F. Sauli, transcriptions for
mandolin of masterpieces by J. S. Bach, G. Briccialdi, A. Piazzolla, H.W. Ernst,
V. Monti and music of contemporary composers. Since 2005 she is also working as
a lecturer at the arts department of university.
Her spare time, which does constantly not suffice, she spends meeting friends and family, shopping,
netsurfing, looking for a good music or an information for her lessons. If the weather is good you
may find her looking after the flowers in the garden or with her friends together making a barbecue.
Her greatest fun is to see the first snowdrops coming out from under the snow. She finds pleasure in
peace and quiet of summer evenings, leafs rustling of an autumn garden or a crackle of logs in a fireplace.
She likes to travel to the sea side with friends and to open new horizons.