Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
Encyclopedia
Nadja Rose Catherine Salerno-Sonnenberg (born January 10, 1961) is an Italian-born classical violin
ist, author, and teacher. She is a United States
citizen.
. She immigrated with her family to the United States at the age of eight, relocating to Cherry Hill
, New Jersey
. She studied at the Curtis Institute of Music
and later with Dorothy DeLay
at the Juilliard School of Music. In 1981, she became the youngest-ever prizewinner in the Walter W. Naumburg International Violin Competition. She has been honored with an Avery Fisher Career Grant (1983), and in 1999 she received the Avery Fisher Prize
, for "outstanding achievement and excellence in music."
In 1994, Salerno-Sonnenberg badly injured one of her fingers in a kitchen accident, a potentially career-ending injury. Her fingertip was surgically re-attached, and by 1996 she returned to performing. She has been a frequent guest on NBC
's The Tonight Show
with Johnny Carson
, and has also been featured on the CBS News
60 Minutes
news program. In May 1999, 60 Minutes II
aired a follow-up to 60 Minutes 1986 feature about her. She has also appeared on the sitcom Dharma & Greg
Salerno-Sonnenberg has released many recordings on the Angel/EMI Classics
, Nonesuch
, and NSS Music labels. She has performed with orchestras around the world and played at the White House
. She has also performed with such popular artists as Mandy Patinkin
, Joe Jackson
, and Mark O'Connor
. She has frequently collaborated with the pianist Anne-Marie McDermott
.
In 1989, she wrote Nadja: On My Way (ISBN 051757392X. ISBN 978-0517573921), an autobiography written for children. In May 1999 she received an honorary Master of Musical Arts degree from New Mexico State University
, the first honorary degree that university ever awarded. She is also the subject of Paola di Florio's documentary, Speaking in Strings
, released by Docurama.
Salerno-Sonnenberg was selected to be the Music Director of the New Century Chamber Orchestra
, and began leading the orchestra in the fall of 2008.
Salerno-Sonnenberg holds U.S. patent no. 5,121,928, for a movie-trivia board game.
:
On Nonesuch
/Elektra Records
:
On NSS Music:
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, author, and teacher. She is a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen.
Career
Salerno-Sonnenberg was born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. She immigrated with her family to the United States at the age of eight, relocating to Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She studied at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
and later with Dorothy DeLay
Dorothy DeLay
Dorothy DeLay was an American violin instructor, primarily at the Juilliard School.She was born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.-Career and education:...
at the Juilliard School of Music. In 1981, she became the youngest-ever prizewinner in the Walter W. Naumburg International Violin Competition. She has been honored with an Avery Fisher Career Grant (1983), and in 1999 she received the Avery Fisher Prize
Avery Fisher Prize
The Avery Fisher Prize is an award given to American musicians for outstanding achievement in classical music. Founded by philanthropist Avery Fisher in 1974, it is regarded as one of the most significant awards for American instrumentalists. The award is decided by members of the Avery Fisher...
, for "outstanding achievement and excellence in music."
In 1994, Salerno-Sonnenberg badly injured one of her fingers in a kitchen accident, a potentially career-ending injury. Her fingertip was surgically re-attached, and by 1996 she returned to performing. She has been a frequent guest on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
with Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
, and has also been featured on the CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
news program. In May 1999, 60 Minutes II
60 Minutes II
60 Minutes II was a weekly primetime news magazine television program that was intended to replicate the "signature style, journalistic quality and integrity" of the original 60 Minutes series.It aired on CBS on Wednesdays, then later moved to Fridays at 8 p.m...
aired a follow-up to 60 Minutes 1986 feature about her. She has also appeared on the sitcom Dharma & Greg
Dharma & Greg
Dharma & Greg is an American television sitcom that aired from September 24, 1997, to April 30, 2002.It starred Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson as Dharma and Greg Montgomery, a couple who married instantly on their first date despite being complete opposites...
Salerno-Sonnenberg has released many recordings on the Angel/EMI Classics
EMI Classics
EMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases....
, Nonesuch
Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
, and NSS Music labels. She has performed with orchestras around the world and played at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. She has also performed with such popular artists as Mandy Patinkin
Mandy Patinkin
Mandel Bruce "Mandy" Patinkin is an award-winning American actor of stage and screen and a tenor vocalist. He is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim, and is best-known for his work in musical theatre, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park...
, Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson (musician)
Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter now living in Berlin, whose five Grammy Award nominations span from 1979 to 2001...
, and Mark O'Connor
Mark O'Connor
Mark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
. She has frequently collaborated with the pianist Anne-Marie McDermott
Anne-Marie McDermott
Anne-Marie McDermott is a classical music pianist, and member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She is also the artistic director of the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, and Artistic Director of the Ocean Reef Chamber Music Festival in Key Largo, FL and the Avila Chamber Music...
.
In 1989, she wrote Nadja: On My Way (ISBN 051757392X. ISBN 978-0517573921), an autobiography written for children. In May 1999 she received an honorary Master of Musical Arts degree from New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
, the first honorary degree that university ever awarded. She is also the subject of Paola di Florio's documentary, Speaking in Strings
Speaking in Strings
Speaking in Strings is a 1999 documentary film directed by Paola di Florio. The film is based on the life of Italian-born violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and it received a nomination for Best Feature Documentary Film at the 72nd Academy Awards....
, released by Docurama.
Salerno-Sonnenberg was selected to be the Music Director of the New Century Chamber Orchestra
New Century Chamber Orchestra
The New Century Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1992 by cellist, Miriam Perkoff, and violist, Wieslaw Pogorzelski. The goal of the founders was to present classical music in a fresh and unique way in the San Francisco Bay Area. The music director chooses the programs and guides the artistic...
, and began leading the orchestra in the fall of 2008.
Salerno-Sonnenberg holds U.S. patent no. 5,121,928, for a movie-trivia board game.
Partial discography
On Angel/EMI ClassicsEMI Classics
EMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases....
:
- Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Massenet (1990)
- Brahms: Violin Concerto in D/Bruch: Concerto #1 in G Minor (1990)
- Vivaldi - The Four Seasons (1991)
- It Ain't Necessarily So (1992)
- Barber: Violin Concerto; Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 (1992)
- Sibelius: Violin Concerto; Chausson: Poeme for Violin & Orchestra (1993)
- Bella Italia: From the Aspen Music Festival (1997)
- Night & Day (1998)
On Nonesuch
Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
/Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
:
- Humoresque (1998)
- Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Sérgio and Odair Assad (2000)
On NSS Music:
- Live (2005)
- Tchaikovsky & Assad: Concertos in D major (2005)
- Merry: a Holiday Journey (2006)
- Together (with New Century Chamber Orchestra) (2009)