Alana Youssefian

Violin

"...one of the most virtuosic, passionate, and engaging musicians in the early music world today." 

— Gotham Early Music Scene 

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Biography

Rising star violinist Alana Youssefian has quickly forged a reputation as a sought-after soloist known for her engaging performances, fierce virtuosity, and passionate interpretations of works spanning the baroque era to the music of today. Ms. Youssefian was named an American Fellow of The English Concert and Juilliard Fellow of Mercury in 2018, as well as being named winner of The Juilliard School's 2017 Historical Performance Concerto Competition, in which capacity she performed Vivaldi's "Il Grosso Mogul" concerto with Juilliard415 and Nicholas McGegan at Alice Tully Hall. An audience favorite, Ms. Youssefian was named Best Recital Soloist of the 2019-2020 season by the San Francisco Classical Voice  Audience  Choice  Awards. 
 
Her performances in North America and abroad have garnered acclaim in Early Music America, The Boston Musical Intelligencer, New Zealand Herald, BBC Music Magazine, and other publications. She has appeared in recital with Nicholas McGegan, Masaaki Suzuki, and William Christie. Her solo debut album, Brillance Indéniable: The Virtuoso Violin in the Court of Louis XV, produced by Swineshead Productions, LLC, was released on the Avie label. 

Ms. Youssefian’s 19/20 season included many exciting solo performances throughout the US. Following performances of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in February 2019, Alana was invited to return to Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale for Nicholas McGegan’s final season, performing of Mendelssohn’s E minor Violin Concerto. She was also asked to perform a program of Vivaldi concerti with Ars Lyrica Houston, and Locatelli’s "Harmonic Labyrinth" Violin Concerto with Voices of Music. New York engagements included a Vivaldi concerto performance with House of Time, and two new programs of solo violin repertoire in January and April 2020. Her summer 2020 calendar included solo performances with Voices of Music at the Berkeley Festival & Exhibition and leading a baroque program at the Garth Newel Music Center. Solo invitations for the 20/21 season included a video recording of Alana’s signature Vivaldi “St. Anthony” concerto with Voices of Music, and her Seattle Baroque Orchestra debut with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. 

While a student at Juilliard, Ms. Youssefian performed with Juilliard415 as concertmaster and soloist on several occasions, including their tours of India and New Zealand.  Residencies include Avaloch Farm Music Institute in Summer 2018, and Seabury Academy of Music from 2013-2018. Recent tours include US/Canada and Poland with Bach Collegium Japan. She is a member of Voices of Music, and frequently performs with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, Bach Collegium Japan, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, New York Baroque Incorporated, The Sebastians Chamber Players, and Teatro Nuovo as associate concertmaster. 

Ms. Youssefian studied with Marilyn McDonald at Oberlin Conservatory, and completed a master’s degree in Violin Performance at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music with Kenneth Goldsmith. While at Rice she was selected to perform Berio Corale with the Shepherd School Contemporary Ensemble.  She most recently graduated from The Juilliard School's Historical Performance Program in Spring 2018, where she studied with Cynthia Roberts, Elizabeth Blumenstock, and Rachel Podger.  In her free time, Ms. Youssefian enjoys spending time with her family and their cats Jimmy and Django, reading Stephen King novels, and rocking out to The Rolling Stones.