20th October 2014 “Nakipbekova’s readings are inspirational and she brings something fresh and spontaneous to them. There’s nothing routine here, and no-one coming to these recordings will feel in any way short-changed. These performances stand side-by side with the best.” Alfia Nakipbekova was born in Karaganda, a mining town in Central Kazakhstan, where, at the age of seven, she began her cello studies with exiled cellist and Gulag survivor, Roman Mazanov. She was accepted by the Moscow Central Music School for gifted children and 3 years later entered the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire to study with Mstislav Rostropovich, as well as receiving an extensive series of master classes from the soviet cello legend, Daniel Shafran. In 1981 Alfia defected to the UK where she realised her dream to study with Jacqueline Du Pré. She soon established herself as a leading soloist and chamber musician (with The Bekova Trio) and has appeared at major Festivals and concert halls throughout Europe, USA, Middle East, Canada and Australia.