IMG 1971

Laura Giannini

Degrees & Studies

B.M., M.M. – Duni Music Conservatory

Accademia di Santa Cecilia — Violin and Chamber Music Diploma

Hochschule für Künste Bremen — Postgraduate Diploma in Violin Performance

C.U.N.Y. — Artist Diploma

Division

Violin

Music Conservatory of Westchester

Faculty since 2023

Born In

Bari / Italy

Performances & Distinctions

Laura Giannini, an Italian violinist, recording artist, and music educator based in New York City, began her career at age 19 when she was selected by violinist Uto Ughi to perform with his Festival Omaggio a Roma Orchestra as a featured soloist in the Vivaldi Concerto RV 581 in C Major. From 2005 to 2006, she appeared with the Orchestra Philharmonia Mediterranea performing the Bach Double and Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.

An award winner in duo and piano trio competitions throughout Europe, Laura collaborated there with Accademia dei Cameristi, A.Gi.Mus. Roma, Musica a Piazza Navona, and Deutscher Tonkünstlerverband, among others. Her playing was featured in the Ensemble Mediterranée’s world-premiere recording of Raffaele Gervasio’s compositions in a CD produced by DAD Records in 2006 and on Deutschland Radio Kultur during the Kammerensemble Nordwind live broadcast of Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, as well as more recently on the WVOX radio in a musical interview about South-Italian composers.

Influenced by mentors such as Felix Ayo, Mark Gothoni, Katrin Scholz, Shmuel Ashkenasi, and Daniel Phillips, Laura is deeply engaged in chamber music. She collaborates with Semplice Players at Bargemusic, Kollective366, The Queens Consort and Ensemble Leonarda, and has performed alongside artists like Mark Peskanov, Alexander Fiterstein, Nina Kogan, and Doris Stevenson. In duo and ensembles, she has performed at renowned venues across Europe, Asia, and the United States, including Carnegie Hall, The National Opera Center, Shinmin Art Center, Yuanlin Performance Hall, Die Glocke, Temple du Foyer de l’Âme, and Auditorium Parco della Musica. Laura has been a founding member of the OLLA Rhapsody, violin duo, and the QueensSound Ensemble.
A passionate educator, Ms. Giannini has taught in Italy, Germany, and New York for the past twenty years. Her most recent teaching engagements include work as a teaching artist for YOSL – the Orchestra of St. Luke’s educational program in New York City. Laura is currently on the violin and chamber music faculty of the Music Conservatory of Westchester and Hoff-Barthelson Music School where she is also the Pre-College Chamber Music Program Director.

Teaching Philosophy

I consider myself a dedicated violin instructor and chamber music coach with a versatile teaching style embracing the Suzuki philosophy supplemented by elements from other methods, such as Shirley Givens, Galamian, Franco-Belgian, Dounis, and learning concepts personally developed according to the student’s level. I read a lot about pedagogy for my curiosity and have observed several teachers working with both young and older students in both individual and group classes as well as master classes.

My last pedagogical reading is “Teaching from the Balance Point” by Edward Kreitman, a book that I find fascinating because it inspires me to find more options for integrating Suzuki’s principles in traditional string instrumental teaching and striving always for balance, such an important element! In my teaching career, I have been very fond of many other readings, among which I feel the urge to mention “Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching” by Ivan Galamian, “A New Approach to Violin Playing” by Kato Havas, and “The Artist’s Technique of Violin Playing” by Demetrius C. Dounis.

I believe that the students should be guided to appreciate the creativity of the never-ending learning process, becoming their teachers more and more as they artistically grow. I enjoy taking up the challenge to motivate students and then watching their development over the years.