Gina Maria McGuinness
Gina Maria Mc Guinness - Irish violinist Gina Maria McGuinness began her studies at the Young European Strings School of Music at the early age of four with Maria Kelemen and later continued with Professor Ronald Masin. In 1998, she claimed the first prize at the International violin competition 'Young Musician of Tallinn, Estonia' and later became a finalist at the 'Schontal International Violin Competition' in Germany. Gina has since then flourished into a talented young musician, giving concert performances throughout Ireland, Europe and America.
From the age of eight she was a member of the YES Chamber Orchestra where she appeared numerous times as soloist, including a tour to Finland in 2001 where she performed Vivaldi's Four Seasons. In 2005, she travelled to Budapest, Hungary to perform as soloist and led the orchestra in performances of Bartok's Divertimento for strings. In September 2006, Gina Maria travelled to Tallinn, Estonia and gave concert performances of Brahms Double Concerto for violin and cello with the Estonian Symphony Orchestra. She gave her debut solo recital along side renowned pianist Alasdair Beatson in June of 2007 at the National Concert Hall Dublin, where she received critical acclaim.
Gina Maria has worked with many prestigious teachers around the world such as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Pavel Vernikov, Vadim Gluzman, Philippe Graffin, Boris Kuschnir, Igor Ozim, Yair Kless, Miariam Fried, Marc Johnson and John O'Conor along with many others.
Gina Maria has developed a great passion for chamber music and for many years she took part in the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, performing in string quartets, piano quartets and quintets. She has collaborated with many artists around Europe and America and has received close guidance from members of the Vermeer String Quartet. This past summer, she was invited to perform Brahms String Sextet in B Flat, Op.18 at the Gaia Chamber Music Festival Thun, Switzerland with distinguised artists Philppe Graffin, Gérard Caussé, Gavriel Lipkind and Philppe Muller.
Gina Maria studied under the direction of highly acclaimed violinist,
chamber musician and teacher Shmuel Ashkenasi in Lübeck, Germany and
then went on to receive a Performance Diploma with excellence at
Roosevelt University, College of Performing Arts in Chicago. During her
time in America, she gave regular performances as soloist, chamber
musician and as concertmaster for the Roosevelt Symphony Orchestra. She
is currently pursuing a Masters programme at the Haute Ecole de Musique
de Lausanne, site de Sion with highly respected violinist and teacher
Pavel Vernikov.
Achievements in Ireland:
Feis Ceoil 2000
- 1st prize, St.Cecilia Cup - under 18s, strings
- 1st prize, Terry OConnor Trophy - under 18s, string concerto
Feis Ceoil 1999
- 1st prize, The West Challenge Cup - under 18s, with the YES Orchestra
Feis Ceoil 1998
- 1st prize, Vanecek Trophy - under 13s
- 1st prize, Junior Chamber Cup - under 17s, with Katerina McGuinness
Feis Ceoil 1997
- 1st prize, Eugene Egan Memorial Cup - under 11s, strings
Feile Bhride 1997
- 1st prize, Hogan Perpetual Cup - under 11s, strings, with Katerina McGuinness
- Highest overall marks in the strings section of the Feile Bhride 1996 and 1997
Feile Bhride 1996
- 1st prize, under 11s, violin
Young European Strings 1996
- Intermediate Cup
- Achievements Abroad
France 2002
- Accepted into the Yehudi Menuin International Competition for Violin in Boulgne sur Mer, in March
- Germany 2001
Finalist and 'Special Prize' winner in the International Competition for Violin 'Kloster Schöntal' in Germany
Finland 2001
- Performed in Helsinki and Kotka as leader of the Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra. Soloist in Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' with the YES Chamber Orchestra
Estonia 2000
- 1st prize in 'Young Musician of Tallinn’ Competition
- Awarded 'Conductors Prize'
Estonia 1998:
- 'Young Musician of Talinn', Estonia
- Awarded 'Conductor's Prize’
- Awarded special prize for the performance of a piece by a composer from the contestant's country
Recital on June the 18th 2007 in the John Field room, together with pianist Alasdair Beatson.
...a fully natural performer, in tune with herself as well as with the music she plays.
...Mc Guinness is one of those players who can project a grand phrase without ever sounding grandiose.
...Her musicianship may at times be fiery, but it's also balanced... showing a fine awareness of issues of balance and form.
...in the Ravel, Mc Guinness steered a tasteful course through the flashy faux-gypsiness of the violin writing.
Michael Dervan, The Irish Times