Winner of the Neva Foundation Prize at Verbier Festival in 2012, Anastasia Kobekina performed Bach's Cello Suite No.2 at the opening ceremony of the Freedom and Solidarity Forum on June 4, 2014.

Held under the high patronage of François Hollande, President of the French Republic, the Forum was organized in the framework of the Caen Memorial to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

Thanks to the support of the Neva Foundation, the Russian cellist had an opportunity to perform in front of dignitaries representing the countries that fought in Normandy to restore peace, freedom and democratic values on the European continent.

Born in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 1994, Anastasia was given her first cello lesson at the age of four. In 2006 she was admitted to the Moscow Conservatory. In her home country the young cellist attracted attention through first prizes in international competitions such as the "Nutcracker" television competition (2007) and the "New Names" competition in Moscow (2008). In 2008 she was a finalist in the Eurovision Young Musicians Competition in Vienna. In 2010 she was awarded the Landgrave of Hesse Prize following a masterclass with David Geringas in Kronberg. Thanks to the support of the Neva Foundation, she studied at Verbier Festival Academy and received the Neva Foundation Award in 2012.

As a soloist she has played with orchestras such as the Moscow Virtuosi, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and the Sinfonia Varsovia.

http://freedomsolidarityforum.amchamfrance.org/en/partnerships/thought-partners/