“A viola star in the making!”
About
Born in Los Angeles in 1999, Emma Wernig is a German-Austrian violist who has quickly become recognized for her expressive artistry and distinctive musical voice, establishing herself as a rising star on the international stage.
A distinguished competition laureate, Emma was awarded the Barbirolli Prize at the 2019 Tertis International Viola Competition and won the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition in 2017. These early successes were pivotal in launching her international career. In recognition of her exceptional talent, she also received the Wilo Foundation Prize in 2021, which continues to support her development as a soloist. These prestigious accolades paved the way for a vibrant performance career, which includes concertos, recitals, and chamber music performances across Europe and beyond.
Passionate about expanding the viola repertoire, Emma made her highly praised recording debut in 2021 with an album of rare Austrian viola works, recorded with pianist Albert Cano-Smit for the Champs Hill Records label. The album was met with critical acclaim for its innovative programming and rich interpretation. In 2024, she further expanded her discography with a recording (release TBA) of Alfred Schnittke's "Concerto for Three" alongside Gidon Kremer, Magdalena Ceple, and the Kremerata Baltica, underlining her ongoing commitment to both new and established repertoire.
As a soloist, Emma has performed with orchestras including the Kremerata Baltica, Meininger Hofkapelle, Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, Folkwang Kammerorchester, and Französisches Kammerorchester, among others. Emma is also known for her creative approach to programming. An enthusiastic arranger, she often adapts works originally written for other instruments, such as cello, violin, and voice, for the viola, having debuted her own arrangement of Schumann’s Cello Concerto in the 2024/25 season.
In addition to her solo performances, Emma is the newly appointed violist of the award-winning, Doric String Quartet. Based in London, the quartet boasts a rich history and an acclaimed discography on the Chandos label, with a reputation for dynamic performances and cutting-edge programming. Upcoming projects include a full Beethoven cycle at Wigmore Hall, as well as international tours to America, Japan, Australia, and beyond. Emma is excited to contribute her unique voice to these ambitious projects, further strengthening the quartet’s renowned presence in the world of chamber music.
Emma has collaborated with many distinguished musicians, including Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer, Lynn Harrell, Steven Isserlis, and Christian Tetzlaff and performed at prestigious festivals including the Verbier Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Edinburgh Festival, Grachtenfestival, Grafenegg Festival, Krzyzowa Music, Gezeitenkonzerte, and the Vevey Spring Classic Festival.
In 2024, she served as 1st Principal Viola with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and participated in the orchestra’s recording of Schönberg's "Verklärte Nacht" for Deutsche Grammophon under the baton of Fabio Luisi.
Emma’s educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, where she studied with Paul Coletti, and a Master’s degree from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Ettore Causa and received the Lucy Grosvenor Memorial Prize. She has since completed an additional Master’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, studying with Tabea Zimmermann.
Emma plays a viola crafted by Jason Viseltear in 2019 and currently resides in Berlin, Germany.
D I S C O G R A P H Y
P R E S S
Emma Wernig and Albert Cano Smit have chosen neglected repertoire that surely deserves much wider exposure… delivering playing of great passion and intensity - ★★★★★ BBC Music Magazine
“their readings ooze that uniquely, untranslatably Austrian quality, Gemütlichkeit … Her vivid musical imagination makes this listener look forward to further acquaintance with this highly promising artist."- The Strad - Click for full review
"her performances shine with authenticity ... IT’s all so natural, so sung- such an attractive waiting game as to where she’ll take the colors next."- Gramophone, October 2021. Click for full review
an outstanding CD."- The whole note, canada 2021
The strad opinion Piece - Click here to read
LISTEN
GALLERY
RECENT + U P N E X T
February 26- Meiningen, DE
Staatstheater Meiningen
Schnittke Viola Concerto
With Meininger Hofkapelle and Francesco Angelico
March 4-9- Nürnberg, dE
Nürnberg Chamber Music Festival
Biber Battalia, Shostakovich String Quartet No. 11, Pärt Spiegel im Spiegel for Viola and Piano, Ernst Toch Tanz Suite, Beethoven Große Fuge, Mozart Kegelstatt Trio
March 22- Leer, DE
Brahms Sextet No. 2, Mendelssohn Octet
With Doric String Quartet and Quartetto Quiroga
March 24- Genova, IT
Britten String Quartet No. 2, Mendelssohn Octet
With Doric String Quartet and Quartetto Quiroga
March 25- Padova, IT
Britten String Quartet No. 2, Mendelssohn Octet
With Doric String Quartet and Quartetto Quiroga
April 4- corpus Christi, TX, USA
Haydn Op. 20 No. 4, Tarrodi “Light Scattering”, Beethoven Op. 135
With Doric String Quartet
April 6- washington D.C.
Phillips Collection
Haydn Op. 20 No. 4, Berg Lyric Suite, Beethoven Op. 135
April 8- Philadelphia, PA
PCMS at Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center
Beethoven Op. 135, Haydn Op. 20 No. 4, Beethoven Op. 132
April 9- Carnegie Hall, NYc
Haydn Op. 20 No. 4, Berg Lyric Suite, Beethoven Op. 135
April 11- Easton, PA
Haydn Op. 20 No. 4, Britten No. 2, Beethoven Op. 135
April 13- Schenectady, NY
Capital Region Classical at Union College
Haydn Op. 20 No. 4, Berg Lyric Suite, Beethoven Op. 132
April 28-30- suffolk, uk
Recording for Chandos - Doric Quartet
May 3- Stockholm, SE
Dohnanyi Serenade, Mozart Divertimento 4th movement, Mozart Flute Quartet D Major
With Kristina Winiarski, Catherina Lee
May 7- Torino, IT
Haydn Quartet Op. 20 No. 4, Brahms Sextet No. 2, Mendelssohn Octet
With Doric String Quartet and Quartetto Quiroga
May 18- barbican, london, uk
Guest Principal- London Symphony Orchestra
May 21,22- Madrid, ES
Purcell, Britten with Doric Quartet on the Royal Palacio’s quartet collection of Stradivarius instruments.
May 29- wigmore hall, uk
Bel Canto by Cassandra Miller, Boulez Le Marceau sans maître
With Sean Shibe, Adam Walker, Matthew Hunt, Ema Nikolovska, Colin Alexander, George Barton, Owen Gunnel, Sam Wilson, Mira Benjamin, Alphonse Cemin
May 31- Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, DE
Bel Canto by Cassandra Miller, Boulez Le Marceau sans maître
With Sean Shibe, Adam Walker, Matthew Hunt, Ema Nikolovska, Colin Alexander, George Barton, Owen Gunnel, Sam Wilson, Mira Benjamin, Alphonse Cemin
June 2-7- Reggia Emilia String Quartet Course
Teaching
June 8- Wigmore Hall, UK
Purcell Fantasias 6,7,8, Beethoven Op. 135, Purcell Fantasias 9,10, Britten No. 2
June 19- Aldeburgh Festival, UK
Beethoven Op. 18 No. 3, Purcell Fantasias 6,7,8, Tarrodi “Light Scattering”, Purcell Fantasias 9,10, Beethoven 135
June 21- Thaxted Festival, Uk
Haydn Op. 20 No. 4, Beethoven Op. 135, Haydn Op. 64 No. 3
June 23- Aldeburgh Festival, uk
Bel Canto by Cassandra Miller, Boulez Le Marceau sans maître
With Sean Shibe, Adam Walker, Matthew Hunt, Ema Nikolovska, Colin Alexander, George Barton, Owen Gunnel, Sam Wilson, Mira Benjamin, Alphonse Cemin
July 2-6- West Cork Festival, IReland
Brett Dean “And Once I Played Ophelia”, Enescu Octet, Beethoven Op. 132, Britten No. 2, Haydn op. 20 No. 4, Tarrodi’s “Light Scattering”, Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, Brahms Piano Quartet No. 3
With Doric String Quartet, Ella van Poucke, Henning Kraggerud, Barry Douglas, Christopher Marwood, Marmen Quartet, Lucy Fitz Gibbon, Seamus Hickey
July 10- Festspiele Mecklenburg vorpommern, DE
Purcell Fantasias 6,7,8, Britten No. 2, Beethoven Op. 132
With Doric String Quartet
July 28- BBC Proms, london, uk
Bel Canto by Cassandra Miller, Boulez Le Marceau sans maître
With Sean Shibe, Adam Walker, Matthew Hunt, Ema Nikolovska, Colin Alexander, George Barton, Owen Gunnel, Sam Wilson, Mira Benjamin, Alphonse Cemin
August 3- Internationale Fredener Musiktage, De
Vaughan Williams’ Hymns with James Gilchrist, Haydn ‘Seven Last Words’, with Tim Crawford, Tim Posner, Adrian Adlam
August 10-18- Tippet Rise, Montana, USA
Vivaldi Four Seasons, Copland Appalachian Spring, Kenji Bunch Allemande pour tout le Monde, Schönberg Emperor Waltz, Schubert Trout
With Benjamin Beilman, Lun Li, Melissa White, Isabelle Ai Durrenberger, Jordan Bank, Bryan Cheng, Jay Campbell, Lizzie Burn’s, Pedja Muzijevic, Brandon Patrick George, Yoonah Kim, Monica Ellis
August 27- Tivoli Festival, Copenhagen, DK
Beethoven Op. 18 No. 3, Beethoven Op. 135 with Doric String Quartet