Born 1985 in Bulgaria, Irina Borissova was born into a family of musicians. At a very early age, Irina showed exceptional violinistic talent and gave her first solo recital at the age of nine.  Shortly thereafter, she was invited to perform with various orchestras; as soloist in Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole at age 13, and Paganini’s D major concerto the year after.  Since then, she has performed as soloist with orchestras in Germany, Austria, England, Italy, and her homeland, and has been broadcast on several radio stations in Bulgaria, Germany and Italy.

As a young violinist, Irina won her first competition at the age of 11, when she received second prize at the Competition for German and Austrian Music.
This was followed by prizes at major national and international competitions including First Prize at the International Competition “Mozart” for Young Musicians in Sweden, Koczian International Competition in Czech Republic, Svetoslav Obretenov National Competition Bulgaria, Dobrin Petkov National Competition Bulgaria, and at the  “Hope, Talents and Masters” International Competition Bulgaria. In 1999, she received the Special Award “Prix 2000 for Exceptional Achievement.”

As chamber musician, Irina has performed with renowned international artists such as Roger Chase, Emil Rovner, Pavel Kolesnikov, Lucia Hall, Manuel Fischer-Dieskau, Felix Koch, Giacomo Battarino, and Connie Shih at international festivals such as Mainz Musik, Casalmaggiore International Festival, Norfolk Concerts UK and others. Irina has also served as soloist/leader of the chamber ensemble Mainzer Virtuosi, and is frequently asked to assume the concertmaster role under such conductors as Phillip Mann, Achim Fiedler, Tanya Prochazka.

Irina has a special interest in the interpretation of modern music. This has resulted in invitations to perform the world premieres of several works in 2002, as soloist with the Plodiv Philharmonic.  In 2007 Irina was invited by Arvo Pärt to perform as soloist in his Tabula Rasa in Germany.  She has recorded several contemporary works, including the world premiere of Peter Seabourne’s Violin Concerto “ This is a song for you alone”, and Malcolm Arnold’s Concerto for two violins, which appeared under the Sheva label and garnered critical praise from Gramophone Magazine and Neue Musik Zeitung. Irina appears as soloist and concertmaster on a second CD of the Seasons of Vivaldi and Piazzolla with the Mainzer Virtuosi which received an excellent review in Das Orchester. In 2014 she performed the world premiere of Hans Kunstovny's "Krivo" - for chamber orchestra and Solo violin, a piece dedicated to her and the Mainzer Virtuosi.

Irina also has an avid interest in baroque performance practise, inspired through her work with Elizabeth Wallfisch, Prof. Felix Koch and Michael Hofstetter.  She has performed as a member of the Neumeyer Consort in Germany.

Irina studied at the Musik School “Lubomir Pipkov” with Prof. Josiph Radionov from 1999 - 2004 and since then at the Musikhochschule Mainz with Prof. Anne Shih.  She has taken part in masterclasses with Yfrah Neaman, Taras Gabora,, Petru Munteanu, Viktor Pikaisen, Elisabeth Wallfisch, Mintcho Mintchev, Kevork Mardirosian.

Irina is on the faculty of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz since 2013.