Described as “revelatory” (The Telegraph) and “one of the most magnetic soloists you will ever see” (Seen and Heard International), Ksenija Sidorova is widely recognised as the leading ambassador of the classical accordion. Celebrated for her “verve, style, attitude and impeccable virtuosity” (ZealNYC), she brings a compelling blend of technical brilliance and expressive musicality to every performance.
Her repertoire spans over three centuries encompassing works by J.S. Bach, Astor Piazzolla, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Václav Trojan, alongside a growing body of contemporary works written specifically for her. A passionate advocate for new music, Sidorova continues to expand the accordion repertoire through new commissions and collaborations. Fazil Say is currently composing a new concerto for Sidorova, which will be premiered in July 2026 at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.
Recent highlights include the world premiere of Dobrinka Tabakova’s Sublime Dreams of Living Machines with Stuttgart Philharmoniker at the Bodensee Festival, where she was Artist in Residence. The work received further performances with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, with its UK premiere scheduled with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in January 2026.
2025/26 season highlights include the Canadian premiere of Tõnu Kõrvits’ Dances with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Tüür’s Prophecy with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a return to Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, all three under Paavo Järvi. She also gives solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, Club Musical de Québec, and Prager (curated by Gabriela Montero).
Sidorova has previously appeared with Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra including at the Last Night of the Proms, Münchner Philharmoniker, Orchestre National de France, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Cincinnati Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, and many others. She collaborates with conductors such as Paavo Järvi, Marin Alsop, Thomas Hengelbrock, Vasily Petrenko, Andris Poga, Kirill Karabits, Christian Reif, and Nil Venditti.
Following a successful tour with Thomas Hampson in 2025, including performances at Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Beethovenhaus Bonn, she reunites with him in 2026 for performances of Schubert’s Winterreise and Kurt Weill songs at Tonhalle Zürich, Kings Place London, Bergen International Festival, and Kronberg Academy. She also continues touring with SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet and their ANIMA project, with appearances at Munich Prinzregententheater, Harz Classix Festival, Jurmala Festival, and Vienna Konzerthaus.
A dedicated chamber musician, Sidorova also performs regularly with Avi Avital, Benjamin Appl, Goldmund Quartet, Milos, Nemanja Radulović, Andreas Ottensamer, Tine Thing Helseth, Juan Diego Flórez, and Nicola Benedetti. A regular guest at major festivals, she has appeared at Verbier, Rheingau, Ravinia, Cheltenham, (ex) Mostly Mozart, MITO, Gstaad Menuhin and MISA festival in Shanghai.
Her upcoming album on Alpha Classics (Spring 2026) features Kõrvits’ Dances and Tüür’s Prophecy, recorded with the Estonian Festival Orchestra and Paavo Järvi. Her previous release Crossroads (Alpha, 2024) was praised by Gramophone as “another notable demonstration of Sidorova’s artistry” and features works by J.S. Bach, Sergey Akhunov, Dobrinka Tabakova, and Gabriela Montero. It follows Piazzolla Reflections (Alpha, 2021), named Album of the Month by BR Klassik and one of the year’s best classical albums by Classic Review.
Born in Riga, Sidorova began playing the accordion at age six, inspired by her grandmother. She studied with Marija Gasele before continuing at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Owen Murray, where she received numerous accolades including the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Martin Musical Scholarship, the Friends of the Philharmonia Award, and the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal. She was named an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2016 and a Fellow in 2021.
November 2025
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
