Monica Huggett, violin
Monica Huggett was born in London and studied modern violin with Manoug Parikian at the Royal Academy of Music. When in her teens, she was introduced to the baroque violin; she felt an immediate empathy with the instrument and has since been one of its most fervent champions.
She tours all over the world as soloist, director, and chamber musician, and she has recorded on the EMI, Harmonia Mundi, Philips, Virgin, Erato, and Decca labels with such orchestras as the Hanover Band, Raglan Baroque Players, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, which she formed with former Portland Baroque Orchestra Artistic Advisor Ton Koopman in 1980 and led until 1987.
The 1995-96 season marked her debut as the first Artistic Director in the Portland Baroque Orchestra's history. In the past year she has been guest director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Israel Camerata, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Arion Montreal, Tafelmusik Toronto, City Orchestra of Granada and the Seville Baroque Orchestra.
In the U.K. her work centres on her ensemble Sonnerie which has recently released CD’s of Mozart Piano Quartets and Biber Violin Sonatas on ASV. The Biber won The Gramophone’s prestigious ‘Best Instrumental Recording Award’ in 2002. In 2004 Sonnerie have released a CD of Biber’s Mystery Sonatas on ASV as well as Handel’s Trio Sonatas on Avie.
In addition to her busy performing and recording schedule, Monica Huggett is also Professor of baroque violin at the Hochschule für Künste in Bremen, Germany. She was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1994. From 2009 she has been appointed as Director of the The Juilliard Historical Performance Program.
Monica Huggett performs on a violin made in Cremona, Italy, in 1618 by Hieronymus and Antonius Amati.
