Biography
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Short

Anna Spina was born in Bern, Switzerland. After studying violin and viola at the Universities of the Arts in Zurich (with distinction) and Bern as well as in Paris under Garth Knox, in Sion under Jean Sulem and Barbara Maurer in Darmstadt, she has continued her education at the University of the Arts Bern (HKB) (with distinction) with the interpretation of Théâtre Musical under Georges Aperghis.

Anna Spina is a desired interpreter of contemporary music as well as an outstanding violist. Pro Helvetia, among others, has acclaimed her projects. Without losing her classically trained roots, she pursuits interdisciplinary interests, such as théâtre musical, microtonal music, and intercultural topics and their implementation into music. Her repertoire encompasses numerous important solo and chamber music works from the early twentieth century up until the present. She has worked with composers such as Giorgio Netti, Elena Mendoza, Salvatore Sciarrino, Georges Aperghis, Manos Tsangaris, Alfred Zimmerlin and Eric Gaudibert. Anna Spina has experience playing as solo musician and as ensemble member performing in world premieres and music festivals, such as Lucerne Festival, Archipel Genève, Fuzhou Contemporary Chamber Music Festival, Biennale Bern, MärzMusik Berlin, Tage zeitgemässer Musik Bludenz, Musica de Hoy Madrid, Tage für Neue Musik Zürich, Les Amplitudes La Chaux-de-Fonds, International New Music Festival Wuhan, Musik der Jahrhunderte Stuttgart.

Since 2004 she undertook researches in the microtonal music. In 2005 Artist in Residence on the Pro Helvetia program in Cairo concentrating on the arabic tonal theory. In 2006 further projects with Walter Grimmer, Françoise Rivalland, Klaus Huber and Misha Käser with concerts in Switzerland, Egypt, Germany and China.

Since 1997, performing as solo viola in Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain (NEC) and regular involvement in Ensemble Contrechamps in Geneve and Collegium Novum in Zürich and Kairos Quartett-Berlin.

Guest Lecturer, Masterclasses, Workshops at UDK-Berlin, HEMU Lausanne, HKB Bern, Music Academy Basel, hslu Luzern, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Nanjing Conservatory of Music.

2010 Release viola solo CD on Label NEOS
2009 Recognition award by the canton of Bern
2008 "trois femmes" (intercultural dialoge China-Switzerland). Award-winning project from Pro Helvetia.
2008 Release on Label Grammont
2005 Artist in Residence on the Pro Helvetia Kairo

Long

Biography

Education

- 1993 Teacher's Diplom for violin by Eva Zurbrügg at the University of the Arts Bern
- 1995 Orchestral Diplom for viola by Jürg Dähler 1995 at the University of the Arts Bern
- 2003 Pedagogical Diplom with distinction (viola, Nicolas Corti) at the University of the Arts Zurich
- 2007 Performance Diplom in "Interpretation du Théâtre Musical" with distinction under the tutelage
of Georges Aperghis at the University of the Arts Bern and KlangKunstBühne at the University of the
Arts Berlin
- 2008 Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik Darmstadt
- Master course by György Shebök (KM Ernen and Bloomington)
- Further studies by Garth Knox (Paris) and Barbara Maurer (Darmstadt)
- Further study courses at the KlangKunstBühne, University of the Arts Berlin
- Introductional studies of the arabic tonal theory under Professor Issam El-Mallah

Anna Spina is a desired interpreter of contemporary music as well as an outstanding violist. Pro Helvetia, among others, has acclaimed her projects. Without losing her classically trained roots, she pursuits interdisciplinary interests, such as théâtre musical, microtonal music, and intercultural topics and their implementation into music. Her repertoire encompasses numerous important solo and chamber music works from the early twentieth century up until the present. She has worked with composers such as Giorgio Netti, Elena Mendoza, Salvatore Sciarrino, Georges Aperghis, Manos Tsangaris, Alfred Zimmerlin and Eric Gaudibert. Anna Spina has experience playing as solo musician and as ensemble member performing in world premières and music festivals, such as Archipel Genève, Fuzhou Contemporary Chamber Music Festival, Biennale Bern, MärzMusik Berlin, Musica de Hoy Madrid, Tage für Neue Musik Zürich, Les Amplitudes La Chaux-de-Fonds International, New Music Festival Wuhan, Musik der Jahrhunderte Stuttgart.

Her work in ensemble interferenz between 1996-2003 encompasses electro-acoustic and interactive musical concepts. Collaborative compositions between the ensemble members weave human and environmental concepts together. Interpretation of musical scores using acoustic instruments recorded on tape. Participation in various festivals (Archipèl Genève, Tonkünstlerfest, 2. Fest der Künste St. Moritz, Biennale-Bern).

Solo viola in Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain (NEC) La Chaux-de-Fonds. With NEC CD production, concerts, tours, national and international festival participation (China, Argentina, France.) Involved in Ensemble Contrechamps Genève, Collegium Novum Zürich and in Kairos Quartett Berlin.

Since 2004 she undertook researches in the microtonal music and the analysis of spectral music. In 2005 Artist in Residence on the Pro Helvetia program in Cairo concentrating on the arabic tonal theory. In 2006 further projects with Walter Grimmer, Françoise Rivalland, Klaus Huber and Misha Käser with concerts in Switzerland, Egypt, Germany and China. Engagement and analysis in spectral music.

Since 2003 with Cécile Olshausen, Ernesto Molinari and Barbara Weber member on the board of
directors of the IGNM-Bern concert organizer. Numerous interviews and recordings of solo and chamber music works by Radio DRS 2, SWR and Espace 2.

Guest Lecturer, Masterclasses, Workshops at UDK-Berlin, HEMU Lausanne, Music Academy Basel, HKB Bern, hslu Luzern, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Nanjing Conservatory of Music.

Dokumentation
- 2016 DVD NEOS "ciclo del ritorno"
- 2011 CD Istituto Svizzero di Roma "Rock the Casbah" (Weber)
- 2010 CD NEOS "Works for Viola Solo"
- 2007 CD Grammont Sélection 1. (Gaudibert)
- 2006 CD Grammont "EL-SABR GAMEEL"
- 1997 CD Grammont. Portrait Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain

Grants and Awards
2009 Recognition award by the canton of Bern
2008 "trois femmes" (intercultural dialoge China-Switzerland). Award-winning project from Pro Helvetia.
2005 Artist in Residence on the Pro Helvetia program in Cairo
1997 First prize awarded by the Hans Huber Foundation Award Basel
1997 Sponsorship prize awarded by the Swiss Association of Musicians

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