Cellist Tanya Remenikova Retires from the University of Minnesota After 48 Years

The renowned Russian cellist studied with Mstislav Rostropvich before immigrating to the United States in the 1970s

The Russian cellist Tanya Remenikova, who has led the cello studio at the University of Minnesota for almost half a century, has announced that she will stand down. In recognition of her long service, the university has honored Remenikova with the title of Professor Emerita.

Hailing originally from Moscow, Remenikova studied with Borodin Quartet cellist Valentin Berlinsky, before entering the Moscow Conservatory — where she became a student of Mstislav Rostropovich.

Remenikova then embarked on a solo career, and appeared with the Israel Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and Orchestre Nationale de Belgique, among others. In the United States, she has given recital performances in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Kansas City, Houston, San Francisco, and at the Aspen Music Festival.

She established herself as a pedagogue upon immigrating to the US in 1972, building a sizeable studio in Minnesota. During this time, she played a great deal of chamber music, appearing regularly with the Saint Paul-based Hill House Chamber Players. She also performed in the Barge Chamber Music Series in New York and with the Karlsruhe Trio in Germany.

In 2007, the Minnesota Chapter of the American String Teachers Association gave Remenikova the Master Teacher Studio Award in recognition of her work.

"Getting to know Professor Remenikova and her students has been a highlight of my time at the University of Minnesota," said Patrick Warfield, Director of the School of Music. "Her nearly half a century on the faculty has seen Professor Remenikova launch the careers of cellists and artist-citizens, who now play in the world’s top orchestras and serve as educators in their own right. Here in the School of Music, we could not be more proud of her legacy and know that she will remain an important part of our musical community for years to come."