IMPORTANT NEWS!
Elizabeth Wilson and Eilís Cranitch, together with Christine Anderson co-founded Xenia Ensemble in 1995 as a chamber group dedicated to contemporary repertoire. Its activities over 25 years included the creation of the renowned EstOvest Festival in Turin, making it one of the most dynamic events in the Italian contemporary music scene. In 1998 Eilís and Liza co-founded the Xenia Chamber Music Course, which still today takes place at the splendid mountain venue of Pràcatinat (Fenestrelle). Its original aim to create an opportunity for young string players from Italy and abroad to explore and study the world of chamber music has flourished and gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Liza and Eilís, to become a unique international entity in Italy.
Now after almost 30 successful years, over 1000 alumni from more than 42 countries, and some 800 concerts, Eilís and Liza have decided to pass on the baton to their younger colleagues who are ideally equipped to take over the leadership. They will however continue to be involved in the Association as Board Members, while developing their own projects in other fields.
The Xenia Ensemble Association wishes to thank the co-founders for their courageous spirit, tenacity and wisdom in creating and running the Association. It is equally delighted to announce the appointment of Giorgia Delorenzi and Daniel Llewellyn Roberts respectively in the roles of President and Artistic Director.
—————-
Both Daniel and Giorgia were students of the Course before taking part in it as teacher and assistant organiser and Vice President.
Giorgia Delorenzi graduated with top marks from the ‘G. Verdi’ Conservatory of Turin under the guidance of Claudio Voghera. Thanks to the De Sono Associazione per la Musica, she attended chamber music courses at the Trio School in Trieste and furthered her studies with Pietro De Maria and Enrico Stellini at the Accademia di Musica di Pinerolo. She obtained a second diploma in Instrumental Didactics and Pedagogy at the Conservatorio ‘N. Paganini’ in Genoa. Currently a tenured teacher in music high schools, since 2009 she has worked as a collaborative pianist for the Turin Conservatoire, the Academy of Music in Pinerolo and various national and international competitions. As a member of Trio Casella she played for major festivals and was awarded prizes in national competitions. At the same time, she studied viola, graduating in 2020, and collaborates as a violist and since 2013 as an assistant in the Xenia Chamber Music Course.
Daniel Llewellyn Roberts tours internationally as the founding member of the Castalian String Quartet, regularly appearing in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, 92nd Street Y, Wigmore Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Berlin, Paris Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, and festivals including Aldeburgh, Spoleto, Kuhmo and Heidelberg Frühling. He has appeared in recital with Stephen Hough, Isabel Charisius, Timothy Ridout, Michael Collins, Zlatomir Fung and Cédric Tiberghien and commissioned music from Mark-Anthony Turnage, Charlotte Bray, Thomas Larcher and Anna Clyne. In 2019 the quartet was named Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist of the Year; since 2021 they have been ensemble in residence at the University of Oxford. Their recent recording ‘Between Two Worlds’ was given a double five star review by BBC Music Magazine. An avid teacher, Daniel has given masterclasses across the globe and regularly teaches at the Royal Academy of Music.
