Winner of our Ambassador Programme Open Application

"Clarissa has all the qualities necessary to make her mark on the music industry today. She is an incredibly well trained artist with a beautifully distinctive sound, who knows how to present herself in today’s ever changing musical landscape. We believe Clarissa has the right tools to reach international audiences and we are very much looking forward to working with her on the Classeek Ambassador Programme." 

Violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua is known to enchant audiences with her dazzling technical skills and deeply inspiring musicality. Music director and conductor Terry Lowry says she has that “rare star quality that is difficult to describe, but impossible to miss.” 

Clarissa debuted at the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago in front of ten thousand people when she was nine years old. She has performed solo recitals and concerto engagements at venues throughout North America and Europe. Recent and upcoming soloist performances include the opening concert of the Mozartwoche 2023 with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the premier recording of the Augusta Read Thomas concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Cape Symphony, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Orchestra della Toscana, Orchestra Filarmonica di Benevento, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, El Sistema Orchestra and the Salzburger Orchester Solisten. 

Winner of several international competitions, she was awarded First Prize, Audience Award and Special Bärenreiter Award at the International Mozart Competition Salzburg. She was also awarded the Grand Prize at the Cape Symphony International Violin Concerto Competition. She is a Young Artist of the Classically Connected Organization in New York, and an Affiliate Artist of the Guarneri Hall Program in Chicago. An avid and enthusiastic learner, Clarissa received her Bachelor of Music at age sixteen, graduating summa cum laude. In 2021, she completed her Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Pierre Amoyal. She is currently studying with Antje Weithaas at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin.

Violin

Clarissa Bevilacqua

Calling all classical music lovers in Geneva! On Saturday, March 8th, 2025, join us at Victoria Hall in Geneva for ELLES, a special concert celebrating International Women’s Day. In collaboration with the Orchestre des Nations, and under the baton of conductor Antoine Marguier, this evening promises to be a powerful tribute to music, artistry, and the contributions of women in the arts.

This concert is not just a celebration of music but also a journey through diversity and tempo. Breaking away from the traditional format of overture-concerto-symphony, the program is designed to be a dynamic and engaging experience, packed with discoveries and free of longueurs. As Marguier puts it, “This is the place to come to discover classical music.”

We are thrilled to feature several Classeek artists in this performance, each bringing their unique artistry to the stage:

 A rising star in the classical music world, Nour has captivated audiences with her virtuosity and emotional depth. A laureate of the prestigious Prix Cortot and a participant in the 2024–25 season of the Classeek Ambassador Programme, Nour’s performances have graced stages from the Musikverein in Vienna to La Seine Musicale in Paris.

 A multi-talented artist, Elise is not only an accomplished violinist but also a gifted composer. Her work Les Traversées. 7 will be performed during the concert, showcasing her remarkable creativity and expressive depth. Elise was part of the 2023–24 season of the Classeek Ambassador Programme as the first composer on the programme.

 Known for her dazzling technique and profound musicality, Clarissa has performed with orchestras across Europe and North America. A winner of the International Mozart Competition Salzburg, she continues to inspire audiences worldwide. Clarissa was part of the 2023–24 season of the Classeek Ambassador Programme.

 A rising operatic star, Aida has already made waves in the opera world with her powerful and emotive performances. A participant in the 2024–25 season of the Classeek Ambassador Programme, which came from being awarded Young Artist of the Year at the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA), Aida’s voice has been praised for its clarity and emotional resonance.

They will be joined by an exceptional lineup of guest artists, including Laura Andres (Soprano), Karolina Ferencz (Mezzo Soprano), Joseph Zeinstra and Oscar Esmerode (Tenor), and Benoît Capt (Bass). The Chœur Universitaire de Lausanne, conducted by Fruzsina Szuromi, will add their voices to this extraordinary musical celebration.

The evening will open with Tchaikovsky's dramatic 

, seamlessly flowing into Bruch's beloved 

, performed by Clarissa Bevilacqua. Then, the audience will listen to the soaring voices of sopranos Laura Andres and Aida Pascu, joined by 150 choristers from the Chœur Universitaire de Lausanne under the direction of Fruzsina Szuromi, for excerpts from Handel's majestic 

The second half spotlights female composers and performers. Szuromi conducts a cappella works by Szőnyi Erzsébet and Amy Beach, followed by the Swiss premiere of 

 by Elise Bertrand. Finally, conductor Antoine Marguier will lead a powerful performance of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy with pianist Nour Ayadi and a strong lineup of soloists – Aida Pascu, Karolina Ferencz, Joseph Zeinstra, Oscar Esmerode, and Benoît Capt – culminating in a glorious, Ode to Joy-inspired finale.

This concert is not just a celebration of music but also a tribute to the strength, creativity, and resilience of women in the arts. From the timeless works of Tchaikovsky and Beethoven to the contemporary compositions of Elise Bertrand, the program reflects the diversity and richness of the classical music tradition.

📍 Victoria Hall, Rue du General Dufour 14, 1204 Geneva

ELLES: A Celebration of International Women’s Day

Join us for this special concert featuring 4 Classeek artists

Upcoming Classeek Concert Collaborations

A Celebration of Young Artistry

One of the winners of our Open Application 2023-24, violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua joined us in concert in January 2024 as part of the Ambassador Programme.

Clarissa Bevilacqua | Full Concert

Dream Catcher

Fiddle Dance Suite - 1. Sidestep Reel

Violin Sonata, Op. 31, No. 2 - IV. Fünf Variationen über das Lied “Komm, lieber Mai” v. Mozart

Recitativo and Scherzo, Op. 6

Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006

Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 27 “Jacques Thibaud”

Classeek Showroom performance, 25 January 2024

Clarissa Bevilacqua talks about her involvement in the Classique Ambassador Programme,  her experiences studying in various places such as Italy, Salzburg, and Berlin, and her vision for Dynamic Fest, a festival she founded in Salzburg, Austria.

Clarissa Bevilacqua Interview

with Benjamin Woodroffe

Clarissa Bevilacqua, violin (Italy-USA) / Open Application

Solitude is a philosophical musing that many have pondered on. For violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua, it has marked her career. At nine years old, alone before a crowd of 10,000, she enchanted the audience with her inspired musicality. At seventeen, presenting in front of the Concours Musical International de Montréal jury, Bevilacqua was the only candidate who chose to play solo - without accompaniment - during the first round. And last year, Bevilacqua released her debut album, Dream Catcher, featuring Augusta Read Thomas’ complete works for solo violin. 

The individual voice of a violin and violinist is explored in this programme that spans three centuries. Meticulously chosen by Bevilacqua, each piece demonstrates the development of violin expression throughout various musical periods, the common theme being each composer’s distinctive contribution to the solo violin repertoire. 

Dream Catcher opens the concert in an ethereal, foggy daze. As this bewitching story unfurls, we may be left wanting to remain in an abstract haze. This is exactly when the second work, Sidestep Reel, composed by Wynton Marsalis, steps in. We are thrust into a contemporary work that slides into the world of folk and jazz with its Afro-Celtic dance style.

These modern opening acts are then tempered by the tradition of Viennese art music. Paul Hindemith and Fritz Kreisler’s characteristic flavours and idiomatic writing are showcased with virtuosic flair, proving that a similar ‘nurture’ can create extremely distinct but equally compelling styles. 

The last set of compositions juxtapose past and present. Bach’s Violin Partita No.3 is one of six for solo violin and, almost exactly two hundred years later, inspired Ysaÿe’s own. Beginning with the same initial notes as Bach’s Partita No.3, Ysaÿe’s Sonata No.2 pays homage, before meandering into a unique composition that fluctuates between incredibly technical passages and deep, sensitive, song-like melodies.

It was J.S. Bach who wrote “Sei Solo” on the manuscript of his Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. It is widely accepted that instead of writing “You are alone”, he meant to write Sei Soli, meaning “Six Solos”. But perhaps not. Bach may also have been taken by the exploration of solitude for the instrument and instrumentalist. With her violin and the musings of six great composers, Clarissa Bevilacqua adds her own exceptional interpretation.  

Violin Recital

 (composer) as the two young artists joining  us this season for the Ambassador Programme 2023-2024, via our open application. 

These two wonderful artists stood out in a highly competitive application process, and we are very happy to support them in their development over the coming year. 

We would like to thank everyone who applied, for their effort and time that went into applying, and encourage anyone who did not receive a place this year to apply next year. Applications for next season will be open in early 2024, please check our 

Clarissa and Elise will join the nominated artists on the Ambassador Programme for the season 2023-24. The full selection of artists will be announced later this week.  

__________________________________________________________________________________

Violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua is known to enchant audiences with her dazzling technical skills and deeply inspiring musicality. Music director and conductor Terry Lowry says she has that 

“rare star quality that is difficult to describe, but impossible to miss.” 

Clarissa debuted at the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago in front of ten thousand people when she was nine years old. She has performed solo recitals and concerto engagements at venues throughout North America and Europe. Recent and upcoming soloist performances include the opening concert of the Mozartwoche 2023 with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the premier recording of the Augusta Read Thomas concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Cape Symphony, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, El Sistema Orchestra and the Salzburger Orchester Solisten. 

Winner of several international competitions, she was awarded First Prize, Audience Award and Special Bärenreiter Award at the International Mozart Competition Salzburg, as well as the Grand Prize at the Cape Symphony International Violin Concerto Competition. She is a Young Artist of the Classically Connected Organization in New York, and an Affiliate Artist of the Guarneri Hall Program in Chicago. An avid and enthusiastic learner, Clarissa received her Bachelor of Music at age sixteen, graduating summa cum laude. In 2021, she completed her Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Pierre Amoyal and  is currently studying with Antje Weithaas at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin.

Born in 2000, Elise Bertrand began playing the piano at the age of 5, the violin at the age of 8, and began composing just three years later. After studying at the CRR in Toulon, Elise went on to obtain her master's degree at the CNSMDP in the class of Roland Daugareil and extended her career in higher writing classes in the same establishment (harmony, counterpoint, etc.). In 2022 she also became Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in the class of Augustin Dumay. 

After studying at the CRR in Toulon, Elise went on to obtain her master's degree at the CNSMDP in the class of Roland Daugareil and extended her career in higher writing classes in the same establishment (harmony, counterpoint, etc.). In 2022 she also became Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in the class of Augustin Dumay. 

Elise has also won numerous violin, chamber music and composition competitions, including 2nd Prize at the Ginette Neveu International Competition and the Special Prize for the best interpretation of the contemporary piece, in 2019; 1st Prize and Special Prize at the Léopold Bellan International Competition; and in 2022 she was awarded the 1st Prize of the Rotary Club Paris as well as 1st Prize – Honorary Prize at the International Competition for Young Talents in Normandy. 

Her first album "Lettera Amorosa" (on the Klarthe label) around her works is hailed by critics and the press.

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Clarissa Bevilacqua

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