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 is an Italian violinist, recording artist, and music educator based in NYC. At age 19, she was selected by the violinist Uto Ughi to perform as a soloist and member of his Festival Omaggio a Roma Orchestra. Awarded 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. In 2006 she contributed in the Ensemble Méditerranée to the first world recording of chamber works by Raffaele Gervasio in a CD entitled “Rapsodia su Canti di Puglia,” produced by DAD Records. Her playing was also featured in 2012 on Deutschland Radio Kultur during the Kammerensemble Nordwind live broadcast of Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire and last year on the WVOX radio in an hour-long musical interview about South-Italian composers.
Ms. Giannini has played with Semplice Players – Mark Peskanov’s chamber group at Bargemusic, Kollective366, The Symphony Orchestra of the Americas, Broadway Sings, The Queens Consort, and Ensemble Leonarda. Three years ago, she joined the Connecticut-based New Britain Symphony, whose Music Director is the conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. The same orchestra recently featured her playing for its virtual Music Monday series. In duo and ensembles, she has performed at renowned venues across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, DiMenna Center for Classical Music, The National Opera Center, Shinmin Art Center, Yuanlin Performance Hall, Die Glocke, Temple du Foyer de l’Âme, and Auditorium Parco della Musica. As a chamber music enthusiast, Laura is a founding member of the OLLA Rhapsody, violin duo, and the QueensSound Ensemble, which performs vocal and instrumental music.
Ms. Giannini has taught in Italy, Germany, and New York for the past twenty years. Her most recent teaching engagements include work at the Virtuoso Suzuki Academy and serving as a teaching artist for YOSL – Orchestra of St. Luke’s educational program.
Teaching Philosophy
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.
