“A viola star in the making!”
About
Born in 1999, German/Austrian violist Emma Wernig is an artist known for her authentic musical voice. Early competition successes, like receiving the ‘Barbirolli Prize’ at the 2019 Tertis International Viola Competition and winning the 2017 Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition, have enabled her to pursue an international career. As an advocate for her instrument and passionate about discovering new and exciting repertoire, she recorded her, now critically acclaimed, debut album of rare Austrian Viola works on the Champs Hill label alongside pianist Albert Cano-Smit, released in 2021. She continues to be passionate about innovative programming when creating solo programs, often making her own arrangements of cello, violin, and vocal repertoire. She will debut her arrangement of the Schumann Cello Concerto in the 24/25 season.
As recipient of the Wilo Foundation Prize in 2021, she remains a scholarship holder and featured soloist of the Mozart Gesellschaft Dortmund in the 23/24 season. In 2024, Emma will also serve as 1st Principal Viola of the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Emma’s greatest passion lies in chamber music, having collaborated with artists such as Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer, Lynn Harrell, Daniel Müller Schott, Steven Isserlis, Christian Tetzlaff, Tabea Zimmermann, Nils Mönkemeyer, Viviane Hagner, among others.
She has been a guest artist at prominent festivals including the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Grachtenfestival in the Netherlands, Verbier Festival, Kronberg’s Chamber Music Connects the World, Grafenegg Festival, Krzyzowa Music, the Gezeitenkonzerte in Ostfriesland, and the Vevey Spring Classic Festival, among others.
Emma Wernig earned her Bachelors degree from the Colburn Conservatory where she studied with Paul Coletti and her Masters with Ettore Causa at the Yale School of Music where she received the Lucy Grosvenor Memorial Prize upon graduating. She recently completed an additional Masters Degree with Tabea Zimmermann at the Musikhochschule Hanns Eisler and currently resides in Berlin, Germany.
Emma plays on a viola made by Jason Viseltear in 2019 .
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
April 20- st(ART) Festival 2024- Leverkusen, de
Erholungshaus Leverkusen
Verklärte Nacht by Arnold Schoenberg
With Quatuor Agate, Maciek Kułakowski, and the Bundesjugendballett
MAY 2,3,9,10,15-18- Copenhagen, DK
Guest 1st Solo Viola of Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
May 22-25- L’eure a Sonné, Le Loir s’éveille- Revercourt, Fr
Église Saint- Rémy Revercourt
June 4th- swaledale festival- Yorkshire, UK
St. Andrew;s Church, Grinton
Purcell Fantasias, Boccherini G minor String Trio, Martinu Three Madrigals, Beethoven C Minor String Trio
With Mathilde Milwidsky and Kristina Winiarski
June 7th- Stiftung Mozarteum- salzburg, AT
Stiftung Mozarteum, Wiener Saal
Kurtag H.J. Nota for viola solo, Mozart G Minor Piano Quartet, Enescu Piano Quartet No. 1
With Stephen Waarts, Alexey Stadler, Andrei Gologan