Gwendolyn Masin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gwendolyn Masin |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 17 November 1977 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Genres | Classical music |
| Occupation(s) | Violinist, author, pedagogue, |
| Instruments | Violin |
Gwendolyn Masin was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 17, 1977. She is a talented Dutch and Irish violinist, author, and teacher. She is also a musicologist, which means she studies music history and theory. Gwendolyn is known for her amazing violin playing and for teaching others about music. She plays a special Lorenzo Carcassi violin from 1761.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Journey
Gwendolyn Masin started playing music at a very young age. She began with the piano when she was just 3 years old. By the time she was 5, she picked up the violin. Her first public performance was at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary, when she was still in her first year of school.
When she was 11, Gwendolyn played her first concert in Ireland. This was at the famous National Concert Hall in Dublin. Soon after, she appeared on a popular TV show called The Late Late Show.
Gwendolyn studied violin with many great teachers. She learned from Coosje Wijzenbeek and later from her parents in Cape Town, South Africa. From 1990 to 1996, she studied with Herman Krebbers in Amsterdam. She earned degrees and diplomas from four different countries. Her advanced studies were guided by famous violinists like Igor Ozim and Zakhar Bron.
Gwendolyn's Career in Music
Gwendolyn Masin has had a very busy and successful career. She performs all over the world and helps others learn about music.
Playing as a Soloist
A soloist is a musician who plays alone with an orchestra. Gwendolyn has performed as a soloist with many famous orchestras. These include the Hungarian National Philharmonic and the State Symphony Orchestras of Saint Petersburg and Belarus. In Ireland, she has played with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Playing Chamber Music
Chamber music is played by a small group of musicians, usually one person per part. Gwendolyn has played with many talented musicians in chamber music groups. She has performed with other violinists like Maxim Vengerov. She has also played with cellists, pianists, and even actors. The pianist Simon Bucher has been her regular partner since 1997.
Premiering New Music
To "premiere" a piece of music means to perform it for the very first time. Gwendolyn has premiered many new musical works. She has introduced pieces by composers like Raymond Deane and John Buckley. For example, she first performed Buckley's Violin Concerto in Georgia, USA, in 2013. She later premiered it in Europe at the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
Organizing Music Festivals
Gwendolyn also helps organize and lead music events. In 2004, she started a series called "In Search of Lost Time." In 2006, she founded the yearly GAIA Music Festival. This festival brings together musicians from all over the world. She was also the artistic director for the Carrick Water Music Festival for three years.
Teaching and Writing About Music
Gwendolyn is not just a performer; she is also a dedicated teacher and author.
In 2020, she created "The Exhale," a special retreat for musicians. Although it started online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it aimed to help musicians relax and learn.
Gwendolyn practices yoga, and she wrote articles for The Strad magazine about how yoga can help musicians. She has also taught violin and chamber music masterclasses in many countries. These include places in Europe, North America, and East Asia.
She earned a Ph.D. from Trinity College. Her research looked at how violin has been taught over the years. In 2009, she published a book about teaching violin called Michaela’s Music House, The Magic of the Violin. This book was also published in German in 2018. From 2013 to 2021, Gwendolyn taught violin at the Haute école de musique de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland.
Awards and Achievements
Gwendolyn Masin has won many awards and prizes. She has received honors in Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK, and the Netherlands. As the Dutch representative at the Global Stipends Awards, she received the International Music Award.
Recordings
Gwendolyn Masin has released many recordings of her music. Some of her albums include:
- 15 Squared (with Don Li)
- GAIA Music Festival 2009 (2009)
- Origin (2016)
- Flame (2017)
- Trois (2018)
- West Side Story (2020)
- Legends (2022)
