Member Since: 2015
Section: Violin I
Title: Concertmaster — The Marlowe and Patricia Kluter Endowed Chair
Mari Lunde was appointed Concertmaster of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in 2015. She brings a commitment to excellence and outstanding artistry to the position. Her confident leadership style has proven to be a great asset to the RSO. Mari gave her first solo performance with RSO in 2016 in a spirited interpretation of the Barber Violin Concerto. Since then, she has soloed on Rondo in A Major by Franz Schubert and Violin Concerto in C Major by Fritz Kreisler.
Mari is a graduate from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music where she was awarded a Bachelor of Music and an Artist Diploma in Violin Performance. Mari studied with Kurt Sassmannshaus and the legendary Dorothy Delay. While at CCM she played with the Ensemble for the 18th Century Music conducted by Mr. Eiji Hashimoto, several years as leader and soloist. Mari taught in the Starling Preparatory String Project at the U of C, CCM which caters for gifted secondary students. Her awards include successes in the Young Musicians’ Foundation in Los Angeles, the Santa Barbara Young Artists and Pasadena Instrumental Competitions, and the Starling and Werner Scholarships.
Mari has performed with the Aspen Chamber Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute Orchestras, and has made many concerto appearances. In 1986, she was awarded a five-year contract with the Young Artist Guild for recitals throughout California, was a guest artist in the Aspen Winter Chamber Music Series and has broadcast on a regular basis.
Mari has taught and performed around the world, including three years as violin instructor at the University of Canberra in Australia. While there, she served as concertmaster of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and she also appeared with that ensemble as a soloist. Upon her return to Cincinnati Mari served as concertmaster and frequent soloist with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra for seven years.
In addition to the RSO, Mari serves as concertmaster of Sinfonia Gulf Coast in Destin Florida, and plays regularly with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the ensemble Concert Nova. She enjoys a full schedule of freelance work including orchestral playing, chamber music and a wide variety of cross over ensembles.
Mari gave her first solo performance with RSO in 2016 in a spirited interpretation of the Barber Violin Concerto. Since then, she has soloed on Rondo in A Major by Franz Schubert and Violin Concerto in C Major by Fritz Kreisler.