WFIU's Artist of the Month for March is Federico Agostini.
After receiving his Artist Diploma in Violin from Accademia Chigiana in 1983, Agostini developed a reputation for his solo performances and his work in chamber ensembles. He regularly performs with the chamber orchestra I Virtuosi di Roma, and has led I Musici, which Toscanini described as "Twelve very capable lads of eighteen, a perfect chamber orchestra." He also founded the D'Amici String Quartet, which released an album including Haydn's String Quartet no. 6, a quartet by Ravel, and Beethoven's String Quartet no. 3 in C major.
Agostini has recorded Bach and Vivaldi's violin concertos for the Philips label, and for the Claves label he recorded Faure's piano quartets along with the Quintetto Fauré di Roma. With Live Notes he has also recorded a selection of favorite virtuoso violin pieces. He has performed duo recitals with French pianist Claude Cymerman, a professor of music at DePauw University, and is a promoter and organizer of Open Chamber Music; an annual ten-day festival at Prussia Cove in England.
He has also served as a guest artist at Sarasota's La Musica International Chamber Music Festival, and has collaborated with Bruno Giuranna, Jaime Laredo, Joseph Silverstein, Janos Starker and with the American, Emerson, Fine Arts and Guarneri quartets.
Agostini has taught at the Staatliche Hochshule für Musik in Trossigen, Germany, a school known for its collaboration and cooperation on a national and international level. He has taught numerous master classes in Japan, Sweden, and Italy. He currently is associate professor of Music at IU's Jacobs School of Music. He has taught many emerging musicians, such as Hebe de Champeaux, who is making a name for herself both as a solo violinist and instrumental conductor.
WFIU will feature music performed by Federico Agostini throughout the month of March.