Isabelle Ai Durrenberger

Uniquely communicative, American violinist Isabelle Ai Durrenberger delivers performances of deeply striking and sincere artistry. Gaining national recognition for her skillful and passionate chamber musicianship, Isabelle’s recent engagements include appearances with Boston Chamber Music Society, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Marlboro Music Festival, and Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra A Far Cry. Based in New York City, she is a current fellow of Carnegie Hall’s renowned Ensemble Connect program which develops the next generation of teaching artists and musical leaders through performance, community engagement, and partnerships with NYC public schools. Under the mentorship of Soovin Kim and Donald Weilerstein, Isabelle completed her graduate studies in Boston at the New England Conservatory. While growing up in Columbus, Ohio, she was mentored by Jaime Laredo throughout her high school and undergraduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Isabelle has been serving on the violin faculty at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School since the fall of 2022, and her high school students have been admitted to top national conservatories such as Juilliard, New England Conservatory, and Cleveland Institute of Music. National accolades for Isabelle’s playing include the 2022 Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award, 2018 Irving M. Klein Competition Bronze Medal, Tuesday Musical First Prize Scholarship for Performance, First Prize in Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition, and being named Artist Fellow of Jennifer Koh’s 2021 “Alone Together” Seminar. A frequent competitor in international competitions, Isabelle was most recently a semifinalist of the 2022 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and 2021 Young Concert Artists Audition. Isabelle has performed as soloist with many American orchestras including the Columbus Symphony, Asheville Symphony, and Lakeside Symphony Orchestra amongst others. Isabelle performs on a 2020 Sam Zygmuntowicz violin generously loaned to her by a private patron in New York City. In her free time, Isabelle enjoys running, baking, and reading classic literature.