Winner of the Musicians’ Company Award 2019, Emma Arizza is an Italian violinist, artistic director and educator based in London. A native of Como, she has established an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing throughout the UK and Europe.

Emma graduated from the Conservatorio di Como, where she studied with Gianluca Febo, before continuing her studies at the Royal College of Music, graduating with distinction. She subsequently studied with Mayumi Fujikawa at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she obtained her Master of Arts in Music Performance with distinction. During her studies, she was supported by the Gladys Bratton Scholarship, the Alan Niekirk Scholarship and the Tillett Trust.

Since making her orchestral debut at the age of 16 in Romania, performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Mihail Jora Philharmonic Orchestra of Bacau, Emma’s career has taken her across Europe and beyond, with performances in France, Greece, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Israel, Italy and the UK.

She has performed at venues including the Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Sale Apollinee at La Fenice in Venice, Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Teatro Sociale in Como, Teatro Zandonai in Rovereto, Auditorium Gaber and Sala Verdi in Milan, and St James’s Piccadilly in London. She has also participated in masterclasses with musicians including Sergej Krylov, Zakhar Bron and the Tchaikovsky Trio.

Emma has won numerous national and international competitions as both a soloist and chamber musician. These include the Rassegna Castrocaro Classica, where she was also awarded the Audience Prize; the Biennial Vittorio Veneto Violin Competition, where she received the Special Prize for Talent and Excellence; the European Moncalieri Competition for Violin and Orchestra; Barlassina International Young Talent Competition; F. Pavia National Competition; National Giussano Competition; and the Bellagio and Como Lake Festival International Competition. She was also awarded the Franz Terraneo Prize as Best Graduate of the Conservatorio di Como.

As Artist in Residence for the Fondazione La Società dei Concerti di Milano during the 2018/19 season, Emma performed for Associazione Musica con le Ali. She later appeared as a soloist on the CIDIM Suono Italiano tour in Israel and as part of CIDIM’s Nuove Carriere, as well as performing for Emilia Romagna Festival.

Alongside her performing career, Emma has developed an increasingly active role in artistic direction and audience engagement. She works with County Hall Arts, the cultural charity based at London’s historic County Hall, where she leads the County Hall Quartet, presenting a monthly series of lunchtime concerts and developing programmes and collaborations designed to bring classical music into an informal and welcoming setting.

Emma is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Four Seasons Festival at County Hall, a multidisciplinary festival. Across its Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter editions, the festival brings together music, dance, visual art, workshops, food and community experiences, with a particular focus on collaboration, emerging artists and introducing new audiences to live performance.

Education is another central part of Emma’s work. An active violin teacher and chamber music coach, she works with children, young musicians and adult learners, combining traditional instrumental training with a strong interest in creativity, confidence and healthy approaches to music-making. In 2021 she was selected as a Benedetti Foundation Ambassador, further developing her work in music education, wellbeing and workshop leadership.

Continuing this interest in the future of music education, Emma has recently founded and begun developing an innovative digital app for music students and teachers, designed to make the experience between lessons more engaging, interactive and connected, and to encourage young musicians to develop confident and independent practice habits.

At the heart of Emma’s work as performer, educator and artistic director is a desire to find new ways for people to encounter classical music, combining its traditions with creativity, collaboration and ideas that speak to audiences today.

Emma plays on a Marcello Villa violin made in Cremona.