Marika Holmqvist

During her quarter-century career as baroque violinist, Marika Holmqvist has appeared as a guest concertmaster for orchestras and opera companies on three continents, directed ensembles on both sides of the Atlantic, and served as concertmaster and artistic co-director for groups in the USA such as Sinfonia New York and the Boston-based ensemble, Cambridge Concentus. Currently her leader- ship positions include Zenith Ensemble (New England), Reykjavik International Baroque Orchestra (Iceland) and Washington Bach Consort, among others. In addition to her extensive performance career, she is also a dedicated and passionate educator and has served as coach and guest leader for baroque operas at Cornell, Harvard and Rutgers universities, as well as given master-classes and lectures at institutions across Europe. Alongside her master’s degree in baroque violin performance from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in the Netherlands, she also graduated with a master’s in baroque violin pedagogy—the first such degree ever granted in Europe. Her 20-odd recordings include the Grammy-nominated Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Trinity Wall Street Choir and Baroque Orchestra. Marika has a Finn’s love for the outdoors and when she is not performing or teaching, you will most likely find her cross-country skiing, hiking, kayaking, gravel- or mountain biking.