Marianne Brandstettner is a classical violinist and violist, active chamber musician, pedagogue and creator. She held a position of Tutti first violin at Cairo Symphony Orchestra in Egypt and is now freelancing, playing with different ensembles and orchestras in Austria and around the globe. Furthermore she is purchasing an Arts Practice PhD at University of Limerick in Ireland.
Born and raised in Pucking, Upper Austria, Marianne Brandstettner began her classical violin studies close to home at Anton Bruckner Private University Linz, Austria. At the age of 22 she continued her studies abroad at Haute école des arts de Berne HKB, Switzerland, at Musikene – Centro Superior de Música del País Vasco, Spain and at last at University of Limerick, Ireland. Marianne holds two Master degrees, one in Violin Pedagogy and one in Classical String Performance. Furthermore she completed two postgraduate studies in Violin and Alexander Technique.
Her main tutors include Josef Sabaini, Meesun Hong Coleman, Katherine Hunka, Monika Urbaniak, Catalin Bucataru and Joachim Roewer.
Marianne got inputs by other musicians such as Lily Francis, Frank Stadler, David Gerber, Johannes Meissl, Benjamin Schmid, Thomas Zehetmair, Tim Kliphuis, Nurit Stark, Vera Martinez, Gareth Lubbe, Simone Zgraggen, David Watkin, Marja Gaynor, Andre Swanepoel, Aoife Nic Athlaoich, Simon Aspell, Elisabeth Wiesbauer, Predrag Katanic, Maigréad McCrann and Kolja Lessing.
Marianne loves to collaborate with artists from different fields, such as dance, visual arts, literature, film etc. which, besides teaching, she considers as the best source of inspiration and artistic and personal growth. In 2019 she found the festival “Kunst am Hof” at her hometown in Austria, bringing together artists and musicians, friends from all over the world with the purpose of connecting and spreading the love of arts.
She plays a violin by Thomas van der Heyd, made in 2012, and a bow by Albert Nürnberger from 1920.