‘powerful, delicate, intense and brilliant’ - GLAM Adelaide

‘Margarita demonstrated fantastic control over the orchestra as she took it from the solemn dissonance of the opening to the expanding sense of meditative serenity.’ – The Arts Desk

Margarita Balanas has swiftly established herself as one of the most thrilling emerging figures in the classical music scene, both as a cellist and conductor.

Founder and music director of ANONIMI, Margarita has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Southbank Centre, Foundation Louis Vuitton, Walt Disney Hall and L’Auditori Barcelona.

Margarita is the assistant conductor of Paavo Järvi at the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich in season 23/24. She is the founder and music director of the ANONIMI orchestra and charity, and has conducted the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, Glover-Edwards Symphony Orchestra, Baltic Sea Philharmonic and Järvi Academy Orchestra and Sinfonietta.

Margarita has received mentorship and guidance from Paavo Järvi, Neeme Järvi and Leonid Grin and was selected for Professional Diploma studies in conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Sian Edwards.

Recipient of Latvian Grand Music Award, Margarita has performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras including The Munich Philharmonic, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Riga, Saarbrucken Symphony Orchestra.

This season’s highlights include concerto performances with the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck, performances at Dresdner Musikfestspiele, Moritzburg Festival, U.S. and Europe tours with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Mutter Virtuosi.

Margarita will be conducting Tonhalle- Orchester Zürich, Orquestra Do Algarve featuring her violinist sister Kristīne Balanas as soloist, Cayman Arts Festival Camerata, and ANONIMI orchestra.

Margarita is a recognised guest artist for Classic FM, Scala Radio, BBC Radio 3 In Tune. Her debut album of Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No.1 and other works with Linn Records has since been featured on some of the most exciting Apple Music playlists such as ‘Classical You Must Hear This Month’, ‘Women in Classical Music’ and ‘The A-List Classical’.