Joana Ly

Portuguese violinist Joana started playing violin aged 4 and soon joined the Aveiro Conservatoire of Music where she studied with Ana Sofia Mota until finishing school. After that, her violin studies took her to Lisbon (ANSO), London (RCM with Radu Blidar) and Rotterdam (Codarts with Gordan Nikolic), thanks to the support of the Gulbenkian Foundation. During this time she was lucky to be part of some fantastic training orchestras such as Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and Southbank Sinfonia. Currently her orchestral work is mainly in the UK with ensembles such as Philharmonia, Garsington Opera, Opera North, London Mozart Players, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia and Bristol Ensemble. Her interest for historical performance has led her to some festivals such as Dartington, EUBO Mobile Academy and Freiburg Barockorchester Academy where she had the opportunity of studying with wonderful violinists such as with Petra Müllejans, Margaret Faultless and Adrian Butterfield. She also plays regularly with period ensembles such as Brandenburg Sinfonia and Feuersinfonie(Utrecht Oude Muziek Fringe Festival). In 2016 she received a Career development bursary from Help Musicians UK and performed complete Beethoven Sonatas in a four-concert cycle in London. Chamber music plays a big part in her life, having been part of two string quartets and currently managing her ensemble Artisti con Brio. This has led to playing at numerous festivals around Europe, such as Buxton Festival, Harmus Festival, Stift International Festival, Aurora Chamber Music, EUBO Mobile academy, Dartington and Lake District Chamber Music. Now her own festival keeps her busy - Islington Festival of Music and Art and has recently joined the ENB Philharmonic orchestra as a member.