Savva Zverev in a blue shirt holding his violin and looking ut of a stained glass window

First Violin

Prior to joining the RPO, Savva had been No.3 Principal Second Violin with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a regular player with such orchestras as the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Hallé, CBSO, Welsh National Opera and the Ulster Orchestra, amongst others. He has also guest-lead the Royal Ballet and Northern Ballet sinfonias.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Savva moved to the UK as a full-scholarship student to learn with Yuri Torchinsky, Leader of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, at the Royal Northern College of Music. As a student, he performed with orchestras across the North West as a soloist, most notably, with The Hallé and Northern Ballet Sinfonia.

A pandemic graduate, Savva spent his lockdown recording all 24 Paganini caprices to raise funds for UK-based arts organisations, delivering hot food on Uber Eats, and working full-time at bet365 in Stoke-on-Trent.

In 2020 Savva received the Best Male Actor award from the Greater Manchester Drama Federation, for the role of Andrea in a production by Northenden Theatre Players, Ladies in Lavender.


This Chair is currently available for support. Becoming an RPO Chair Patron allows supporters to build a closer relationship with our players and offers unique insights into our broader programme of activity. Find out more here.

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