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Rimma Sushanskaya is a Russian [violinist]], a student and protégée of David Oistrakh.

Sushanskaya has an extensive repertoire, which includes works by 20th century Russian composers. Through her study of the works for solo violin of J. S. Bach, she established a close association with the Bach specialist and scholar Rosalyn Tureck. She has given recitals devoted to the unaccompanied sonatas and partitas in the UK, USA and France.

Sushanskaya is also an experienced conductor. Her debut event was in June 2005 in Birmingham with the Queen's Park Sinfonia, where she conducted Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, Haydn's Symphony No.100 and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. Since then she has conducted orchestras internationally including in Germany, Israel, Russia, USA and the UK.

When Sushanskaya is not performing or conducting, she is teaching, passing on her skills and knowledge to young and enthusiastic violinists including those attending the Birmingham Conservatoire. Sushanskaya now divides her time between her bases in New York, London and Stratford-upon-Avon in her role as performer, conductor and teacher.

Commissioned pieces

 * 1997: Elegy for Violin and Orchestra from Bruce Polay
 * 1988: Violin Concerto from David Finko
 * 1988: Idyll for Solo Violin from Malcolm Lipkin

Awards and prizes

 * First Prize, International Violin Competition in Prague/Czech Republic
 * Ysaye Medal, awarded by Eugene Ysaye Foundation of Brussels/Belgium
 * Order of Catherine the Great of Russia, awarded by the National Committee of Russian Federation of Social Awards for achievements in music and improvement of friendship and partnership between Russia and Great Britain

Bach and Paganini Festival for Violin Players
Sushanskaya is co-founder (with Rosalyn Tureck) and organiser of this annual ‘Virtuoso Violin’ festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, an international summer school which brings together pupils of a Grade VIII standard for nine days of masterclasses and individual tuition sessions.