Violin Archives - Page 6 of 8 - Theresia - international youth orchestra

Gemma Longoni graduated from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan in 2010 and completed her master’s degree in 2012 with highest honours under the tutelage of Cinzia Barbagelata. From 2013 to 2015, Longoni resided in Basel, where she further honed her skills in baroque violin, obtaining her master’s degree at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis under the […]
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Gemma Longoni graduated from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan in 2010 and completed her master’s degree in 2012 with highest honours under the tutelage of Cinzia Barbagelata.

From 2013 to 2015, Longoni resided in Basel, where she further honed her skills in baroque violin, obtaining her master’s degree at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis under the guidance of Leila Schayegh.

She was a member of the European Union Baroque Orchestra from 2011 to 2012, holding also the role of section leader. Currently, she is the concertmaster of the Geneva-based orchestra Geneva Camerata (GECA), where she occasionally holds the role of concertmaster. She also collaborates regularly with Accademia Bizantina, Kammerorchester Basel (KOB) and Spira Mirabilis, and since 2023 she collaborates with Ensemble Zefiro as concertmaster and section leader.

Since 2019, she has been involved with Theresia Orchestra as concertmaster and tutor for the string section, a role she also assumed with EUBO upon its relaunch in 2022.

She recorded with EMI Classic, CPO, Amadeus, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi and Sony Classical.

Born in Lugano, Chiara Banchini is one of the major interpreters of seventeenth and eighteenth century violin music. After completing her studies, earning the Virtuoso award from the Geneva Conservatoire, she specialized under Sandor Vegh and for several years dedicated herself to the creation of contemporary works as a member of the Contrechamps Ensemble. Her acquaintance with Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Sigiswald Kuijken led to her enthusiasm for performing music from the 17th and 18th centuries using the original instruments. She has cooperated with important orchestras including La Petite Bande, Hesperion XX, La Chapelle Royale, initiating her international career as a soloist. In 1981 she founded Ensemble 415, considered one of the reference and most prestigious European groups for the 17th-18th century repertoire.

Chiara Banchini taught Baroque violin at the Early Music Centre in Geneva before becoming Professor at the Schola Cantorum in Basel from 1992 to 2011. She has to its credit a large discography, over 50 award-winning recordings by international critics.

Longoni

Banchini

Raggett

Poirier-Lachance

Perl

Molinetti

Freer

Bortot

Zimnoch

Toni