UAB’s Alys Stephens Center presents violinist Bella Hristova

Rising young classical violinist Bella Hristova will perform at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Oct. 20, 2011, as part of the Patty McDonald Young Concert Artist series.

Hristova will perform a program of works by Robert Schumann, Joan Tower, Leos Janacek and Richard Strauss in the center at 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $32; student tickets are $20. Call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org.

Bulgarian violinist Hristova made her debut in the Young Concert Artists Series at Merkin Concert Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., after taking first prize in the 2008-09 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. At the auditions, she also was awarded the Helen Armstrong Violin Fellowship, the Miriam Brody Aronson Award, the Ruth Laredo Memorial Award, the Candlelight Concert Society Concert Prize and the Lied Center of Kansas Concert Prize. The New York Times praised her “expressive nuance” while The Washington Post noted her “impressive power and control,” and The Strad extolled her “commanding stage presence.” Hristova plays a 1655 Nicolò Amati violin, once owned by the violinist Louis Krasner.

First Prize winner in the 2007 Michael Hill International Competition in New Zealand, Hristova made a critically acclaimed concert tour of the country and recorded a CD of solo violin works by the Belgian virtuoso Charles de Bériot. She was awarded a career grant from the Salon de Virtuosi in New York and is a Laureate of the 2006 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. She has appeared on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” on National Public Radio. Her festival appearances include The Grand Teton Festival, Music@Menlo, Ravinia’s Steans Institute, Music from Angel Fire and reengagements at the Santa Fe Chamber and Marlboro music festivals.

For the 2011-12 season she will perform in Ravinia’s Rising Stars Series, tour with Musicians from Marlboro and perform throughout the season with Chamber Music Society Two at Lincoln Center. Her season also includes performances with mentor Jaime Laredo, as part of his 70th birthday celebration at the 92nd Street Y Chamber Music Series. She’ll also perform with Laredo as he conducts and performs Bach’s “Double Concerto” at the Elgin Symphony.