Sibelius Academy loans Stradivari violin to Paddington Trio violinist

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The Sibelius Academy at the University of the Arts Helsinki has loaned a 1707 Stradivari violin to Finnish violinist, Tuulia Hero.

’I’m so grateful to the Sibelius Academy for loaning me this fine instrument,’ Hero told The Strad. ’Not only will it support me in further developing my own voice, it will richly contribute to the collective sound of our Paddington Trio. Looking hugely forward to all concerts to come and would love to have everyone join us.’

Hero is the violinist of the UK-based Paddington Trio, which won the 2023 Parkhouse Award. The trio, comprising Hero, cellist Patrick Moriarty and pianist Stephanie Tang, is currently in the Guildhall Artist Fellowship programme. The trio won the Royal Overseas League competition in the strings and piano ensemble category in 2022 and has won prizes at the NEW FORMATS Project Prize, Tallinn International Piano Chamber Music Competition and the Clara Schumman International Competition.

The trio has numerous upcoming appearances this summer, including at Conway Hall, Brighton Festival, Buxton International Festival, Schiermonnikoog Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Lake District Summer Music. Its first performance as part of the Parkhouse Award victory will be on 24 October 2023 at St John’s Smith Square, London, performing a programme of trios by Sam Perkin, Mozart, Arvo Pärt and Shostakovich.

Hero began playing the violin at the age of four and embarked on her musical studies at the Sibelius Academy. She has also studied at University for Music ‘Hanns Eisler’ in Berlin as well as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, receiving guidance from Levon Chilingirian, Adrian Brendel and David Dolan.

She has participated in masterclasses at IMS Prussia Cove, Yellow Barn Young Artist Program and Schleswig-Holstein. As an educator, she has served as an ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation, is a violin teacher for the World Heart Beat Music Academy and teacher of violin and chamber music at the Guildhall Young Artists King’s Cross.

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