For violinist Polina Skliarova (MM ’26, Instrumental and Orchestral Studies, violin), music has always been intertwined with movement — across countries, cultures, and artistic traditions. Raised in Minsk, Belarus, in a musical family, Polina grew up immersed in classical music from an early age. In China, she continued her studies and launched her career, further expanding her musical perspectives. Along the way, she performed with Kunming International Philharmonic and co-founded the award-winning Altair Quartet. Recently, she won a position in the first violin section of the Beijing Union Symphony Orchestra.
When she arrived at Tianjin Juilliard, Polina was seeking not only artistic growth but also a fresh perspective. In this interview, she reflected on the experiences that shaped her journey over the last two years.
Looking back at your time at Tianjin Juilliard, what stands out as a particularly memorable experience?
Coming from a musical family in Minsk — both of my parents are professional cellists — and studying with the same teacher for many years, my musical background was very traditional and structured. At Tianjin Juilliard, I learned how to build on that foundation while embracing a much broader musical perspective. Working with musicians from different countries challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and helped me become more open-minded, adaptable, and confident in my playing.
Can you share a particular challenge you faced during your studies, and what did you learn from that experience?
After graduating from Sichuan University of Culture and Arts, I stepped away from school for a while and worked in a professional symphony orchestra, where my husband, a violist, and I both worked. That experience taught me a lot, but over time I realized I had more to learn and wanted to grow further as a musician. Coming to Tianjin Juilliard was a big adjustment. At first, I struggled to adjust to the demands of graduate study. During that transition, studying with Angelo Xiang Yu and Wei He helped me tremendously. They encouraged me to seek support when needed and showed me the value of learning through collaboration instead of trying to solve every problem on my own. That experience made me more confident, disciplined, and resilient.
As a recent graduate, what advice would you give to incoming students?
Stay open-minded and take advantage of every opportunity that the school has to offer. Don’t spend all your time practicing alone — some of the most valuable experiences come from collaborating with other students and learning from the people around you.
