Born in Romania in 1985, Alexandra Dariescu studied at the Octav Bancila Special Music School in Jassy, Romania, making her debut as a soloist with the Kisinev Symphony Orchestra at the age of nine. In 2002 she won a scholarship to Pocklington School near York, where she studied with Faye Mercer and in 2004 entered the Royal Northern College of Music with a full scholarship from the Associated Board of Music. While at the RNCM Alexandra won numerous prizes and awards, including the 2007 Gold Medal and Peter Donohoe Prize. Selected by the Young Concert Artist Trust in 2008, Alexandra went on to win the Prix Maurice Ravel in France, which led to a recital in the 2009 Ravel Festival.

Alexandra's 2009/2010 season has included concerto performances with the RPO, Sinfonia ViVa, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Nottingham and Norwich Symphony Orchestras. Earlier this week, she played the Tchaikovsky Concerto no. 1 at St. John's Smith Square with the newly-formed International Orchestra for Freedom. Alexandra has also been invited to conduct Mozart's Concerto K414 from the keyboard with the European Union Chamber Orchestra in Germany.

As well as possessing an extensive concerto and solo repertoire, Alexandra is also committed to chamber music, appearing with violinist Alina Ibragimova and the Sacconi, Barbirolli, Idomeneo and Elias Quartets in various concerts.

Further afield, Alexandra has given recitals in the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Moldavia and broadcast for many radio stations, including BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.

[Revised July 2010]