Italy, a beautiful sun-kissed land, built on music and art, sitting on a bed of glistening blue water and basking in a warm glow for many months of the year, while dripping with history. This land was my home while I was beginning to find my voice: the viola. The warm tone of this instrument captivated me as a young girl. It spoke directly to my soul, allowing me to express my deepest emotions. So, I decided early on that this sound would be the soundtrack of my life.

When I moved to Frankfurt am Main to study historical viola at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst with Prof. Petra Müllejans and Prof. Mechthild Karkow, I also found the repertoire that fascinated me the most: the so-called Galant music, particularly from the Berlin Classical period. However, I soon discovered—to my frustration—that my beloved instrument was often overlooked by fellow musicians and audiences alike, considered merely a subtle accompaniment to more prominent instruments. The viola was dismissed as only suitable for "dull" middle voices, with no spectacular solo literature to speak of. Determined to prove otherwise, I set out on a mission.

This led to my first solo CD, titled "More Than a Dull Ripieno!" It showcases an elegant collection of treasures and coquetries, demonstrating that the viola is indeed qualified for leading roles! And perhaps, German music combined with Italian temperament is a pretty good mix?

In 2024, my new CD album "In Sara Levy's Salon - Chamber Music for Viola" will be released on the Christophorus label in co-production with SWR kultur. The program highlights the original repertoire for baroque viola and harpsichord from the second half of the 18th century, based on the music collection of the Jewish patron and harpsichordist Sara Levy (1761-1854), who hosted a salon in Berlin. Some of the pieces are being performed for the first time in modern times. The CD has already received many wonderful reviews!

Aside from establishing the status of the viola, my goal in making music goes beyond that. Coming from a family of non-musicians, it was important to me, even as a child, to convince my mother that classical music could be beautiful and enjoyable. And, in all modesty, she is now a huge fan!

Nevertheless, my mission remains to inspire a wider audience to appreciate this kind of music. When my schedule allows, between practicing, concert tours, and performances, I am also working on a doctoral thesis on 18th-century solo viola literature. And I perform everything I discover!

I also love playing in ensembles. Chamber music and dialogues between different instruments are my home, and I gained extensive experience (and several competition prizes) over eight years with my former ensemble Il Quadro Animato.

In 2020, I founded the chamber music ensemble Salon Violet to explore my favorite repertoire: the music of German upper-class salons around 1800. I am also a co-founder and the first chairman of Animato e.V., a non-profit organization with the aim of organizing concerts focusing on Baroque and Classical music. I am the initiator and artistic director of the Frankfurter Galeriekonzerte concert series and a freelance collaborator with the Bad Sodener Musikstiftung Jürgen Frei. I am frequently invited to participate in projects with various Baroque orchestras, and working with larger groups and renowned conductors is always an exciting and enriching experience for me and my beloved viola.