Serafima Verkholat is a St. Petersburg-based saxophonist and clarinetist, and a recognized specialist in the field of contemporary music. Born in Khabarovsk, she began her musical journey there before pursuing professional studies at the Khabarovsk Regional College of Arts. She later graduated from the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory in the class of Honored Artist of Russia, Professor Andrey Kazakov.

Verkholat’s performance mastery has been recognized with numerous awards at international competitions and festivals. She has further refined her skills in masterclasses with leading global pedagogues, including Vincent David, Jean-Denis Michat, Arno Bornkamp, and Nobuya Sugawa. Additionally, she completed an internship at the Selmer company in Paris, specializing in the repair and adjustment of woodwind instruments.

Her diverse creative activities include leading the SeVer Quartet, serving as the artistic director of a saxophone orchestra, and founding the “Gathering Friends” project. A significant highlight of her career is her work with the Répons contemporary music ensemble, a flagship project of the reMusik.org festival.

As a prominent figure in the musical community, she serves as the St. Petersburg regional representative for the Eurasian Saxophone Association and is a member of the Interregional Union of Concert Performers. She is also the author and compiler of the influential sheet music series, Saxophone: 21st Century.

Her pedagogical work is centered at St. Petersburg’s leading institutions: the Herzen State Pedagogical University and the Rimsky-Korsakov Music College. Beyond teaching, she conducts masterclasses, organizes educational initiatives, and leads professional development courses. Her repertoire spans from the Baroque to the avant-garde; she collaborates extensively with contemporary composers, many of whom have dedicated works to her.