Liya Petrova first came to international attention in 2016 when she won First Prize at the Carl Nielsen Competition in Denmark. Two years later, she recorded violin concertos by Nielsen and Prokofiev with the Odense Philharmonic conducted by Kristiina Poska—an album praised by critics for her exceptional playing and natural virtuosity.
Born in Bulgaria into a family of musicians, she studied with Augustin Dumay, Antje Weithaas, and Renaud Capuçon. Now based in Paris, she performs on two exceptional instruments: a 1742 Guarneri del Gesù, on loan from private patrons, and a 1733 violin loaned by the Bulgarian State.
As a soloist, Liya Petrova has performed with prestigious ensembles including the Orchestre de Paris, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Brussels Philharmonic, the Orchestre National de Lyon, and Sinfonia Varsovia, under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Philippe Herreweghe, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider.
A passionate chamber musician, she performs regularly with Alexandre Kantorow and shares the stage with renowned artists including Martha Argerich, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Yuja Wang, and Mischa Maisky. She is a frequent guest at major festivals such as Aix-en-Provence, La Roque d’Anthéron, and the Rencontres Musicales d’Évian.
Since 2020, she has collaborated with the Mirare label, releasing critically acclaimed albums, including a Beethoven–Barber–Britten recital and a recording dedicated to the concertos of Beethoven and Mozart.