Adrian Pinzaru, violin

Adrian Pinzaru was born in Romania and studied violin at Iasi’s "Octav Bancila" music school and at "George Enescu" conservatoire where he obtained his violin diploma. In 1993 he moved to Italy  and studied with professors Cristina Anderson and Davide Zaltron at Turin’s conservatoire, where he  was awarded  his degree in both violin and viola . Subsequently, he specialised with Stefan Gheoghiu, Mariana Sirbu, Dora Schwarzberg, Sadao Harada, Franco Rossi, Valentin Berlinsky and Milan Skampa. As guest violinist  he has performed in the major concert halls in  Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, and Hungary and as a chamber musician Pinzaru has  performed with outstanding artists such as  Gergely Bogany, Mario Brunello, Gerard Caussé, Marco Decimo, Jean Bernard Pommier, Danilo Rossi, Dora Schwarzberg e Pilar Valero. From 1997 until 2006 he was first violin in Quartetto Casorati. Since 2007, he collaborates  as leader with Xenia Ensemble. First viola in Turin’s “Orchestra Filarmonica” , leader of the  Austrian chamber  orchestra "Arpeggione"  and “I Musici Estensi” orchestra, he currently plays in duo with the pianist Saskia Giorgini. Since 2007 he is first violin in Delian string quartet with whom he tours internationally. He has recorded for RAI, TVR, SWR, Oehm Classics. Since 2004 he has been teaching at  the Music Academy in  Pinerolo (Turin).

Cynthia Treggor, violin

Cynthia Treggor was born in Hartford, Ct. (USA) and studied with Raphael Bronstein in New York. She continued her studies in Italy with Riccardo Brengola, Arrigo Peliccia, and the Quartetto Italiano. Subsequently she performed with the Quartetto Santa Cecilia, Quartetto Pro Arte (RAI) and the Virtuosi di Roma. She was a member of the Radio Orchestra of Rome (RAI) and then became Associate Concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Accademy of Santa Cecilia, also founding and leading the Complesso of Santa Cecilia. Continuing her activity in the USA, she was Concertmaster of the Hartford Symphony Core Orchestra with which she often performed as soloist. She formed and directed the string ensemble "Arioso", Camerata Ensemble, Hartford Symphony Quartet,Trinity Chamber Players, recording for Philips International, Leonardo Label, and Conn. Public Radio. Upon returning to Italy she collaborated with the Orchestra La Fenice of Venice as Concertmaster and performed extensively as leader of various chamber ensembles throughout Italy. Since 2003 she has collaborated with the Xenia Ensemble.

Eilis Cranitch, violin

Eilis Cranitch was born in Cork Ireland. After the degree in musicology at the Cork University she completed her violin studies in Italy at the Santa Cecilia Music Academy in Rome, with the Maestro Arrigo Pelliccia and at the Chigiana Academy in Siena with Maestro Riccardo Brengola. During her career she has played with various camera groups including I Solisti Aquilani with whom she also perfomed as soloist at the most important festivals and concert seasons in Europe, as well as North and South America. In the '80s she founded the Lir Ensemble, a trio and soprano group specialised in both baroque and contemporary music. She plays with the Hilliard Ensemble in one of their programmes dedicated to the composer Arvo Pärt. Since 1990 she has been living in Turin where she teaches and pursues her concert activities. She is President of the Xenia Ensemble Association.

Michèle Minne, viola

Michèle Minne was born in Belgium. She studied at the Brussels Royal Academy of Music under Arthur Grumiaux, obtaining the first prize with honours and the "diplôme supérieur". Since 1971 she has been living in Italy. She has played both in duo and in camera orchestras in various European countries, in the US, in Asian and African countries. She has performed as first viola in Santa Cecilia Symphonic Orchestra, as well as the RAI orchestra Milan and Teatro La Fenice in Venice. As first viola, she has collaborated also with I Solisti Aquilani, I Filarmonici di Roma, the Musica Oggi Ensemble. In addition has recorded for Belgian, Slovenian, Austrian and German radio channels. She is viola teacher at the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Turin (Italy). She is a founder member of the Xenia Ensemble.

Elizabeth Wilson, cello

Elizabeth Wilson (cellist) was born in London and studied at the Moscow Conservatoire in the class of Mstislav Rostropovich. On her return to England she started a career as performer, researcher and teacher, specialising in chamber music. She has followed her interest in comtemporary music with the groups Chameleon in London and Xenia Ensemble in Italy (of both of which she was a founder member). Her interest and research into 20th century Russian music led to her devising much acclaimed programmes of words and music (Music and Revolution, Brodsky and America, Pushkin and Anna Kern, The Young Shostakovich, The Russian avant-garde and others) which have been performed in the UK, Italy and Russia. Wilson has been much involved in contemporary music, performing many new works, several of which were either commissioned by her or are dedicated to her. In her capacity as consultant, she has worked for the Almeida Festival, South Bank Russian festival, and the Holland Festival, amongst others. Her books include "Shostakovich. A Life Remembered", "Mstislav Rostropovich: Cellist, Teacher and Legend" and a biography of the cellist Jacqueline du Pré. She has lived in Italy since 1990, and is the artistic director of the Xenia Ensemble Association.