Rossetti String Quartet - Ensemble-in-Residence

Photo Credit: Christian Steiner

Henry Gronnier, Violin

Nina Bodnar, Violin

Thomas Diener, Viola

Eric Gaenslen, Cello

Praised as a "vital force among chamber music ensembles," the Rossetti String Quartet is renowned for its highly sophisticated, sensual sound and extensive range of colors. The Quartet's compelling stage presence and fresh, innovative style has won its members a devoted following throughout the United States. National appearances are numerous, and include the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the 92nd St Y, Carnegie Hall, and the Library of Congress. Internationally, the Rossetti String Quartet has performed for audiences in England, France, Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands. Popular guests on the music festival circuit, the Quartet's festival appearances include Brevard, Caramoor, Mainly Mozart (Mexico), Saint Riquier (France), Vail Valley and Ventura Chamber Music.

The summer of 2007 found the Rossetti String Quartet in performances at the Spoleto Festival Italy before returning to North America to appear at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, the San Miguel de Allende Chamber Music Festival, the Frick Collection in New York City and their annual appearance at Maverick Concerts.

Throughout the season the Rossetti String Quartet appears with the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music, Music at Kohl Mansion, the Music Guild of Los Angeles, at the 92nd Street Y in New York with soprano Juliane Banse, and continues as Quartet-in-Residence at the Carlsen Center in Overland Park, KS. They will also tour with harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, appearing at the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts, the Wisconsin Union Theater, People's Symphony in New York and the Community Library Friends of the Arts in Shirley, NY. In January 2008 the Quartet returns to El Paso Pro Music for chamber concerts as well as the Spohr Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra with the El Paso Symphony led by Sarah Ioannides.

Among last season's engagements, the Rossetti String Quartet performed at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, debuted at San Francisco Performances and went on tour in the Netherlands with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Other recent appearances include their Lucerne Festival debut, Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall during its inaugural season, the Casals Festival, and the University Musical Society at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, to name a few.

Classical music organizations and fellow artists alike have noticed the Rossetti String Quartet's brilliant artistry, resulting in various collaboration and residencies. Individual artists with whom the quartet has collaborated include Mr. Thibaudet, flutist Paula Robison and guitarist Pepe Romero. In addition to the group's current residency at the Carlsen Center in Overland Park, Kansas, the Rossetti String Quartet also served as Artists-in-Residence at Caramoor and at the Ventura Chamber Music Festival.

Co-founded in 1996 by violinist Henry Gronnier and violist Thomas Diener and completed by cellist Eric Gaenslen and violinist Nina Bodnar, the Rossetti String Quartet is named after 19th century Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti, whose artistic ideals about the use of color, poetry, and naturalism are embodied in the Quartet's musicianship. Each member of the Quartet is an accomplished musical artist in their own right, and the aesthetic depth and insight each brings to the group help create the intimate, provocative atmosphere that has become the Rossetti trademark.

Violinist Nina Bodnar makes a happy return to the Rossetti String Quartet this season. Ms. Bodnar's many achievements include several outstanding prizes, including first prize in the National Dealy Competiton, the National Coleman Chamber Music Competition, and the Jacques Thibaud International Violin Competition. The latter honor launched her international career, bringing her solo appearances with symphony orchestras throughout the world.

As a chamber musician, Ms. Bodnar was a regular member of the Santa Fe and "Strings in the Mountains" ( Steamboat Springs, Colorado) Chamber Music Festivals for several years, as well as being a guest artist at numerous other chamber music festivals throughout the country.

A native of Santa Barbara, Ms. Bodnar served as concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra for several years before being appointed concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Slatkin in 1989, a position she held until 1995. During these years Ms. Bodnar continued to be active as a soloist and chamber musician and was artist in residence at Washington University. Ms. Bodnar currently resides in Santa Barbara and devotes herself to her students. Her beloved teachers were Sybil Maxwell, Zino Francescatti, and Henri Temianka.

Violinist Henry Gronnier is a founding member of the Rossetti String Quartet. As a soloist, he has performed worldwide in recital, including at Carnegie's Weill Hall and at Wigmore Hall in London. He has performed at many of the leading international music festivals as an orchestral soloist and as a collaborator in chamber music ensembles, including Spoleto (Italy and Charleston), at Festival Mediterraneen and Zino Francescatti Festival in France, and in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. He collaborates with talents including Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Lukas Foss, Chantal Juillet, Ann Queffelec, Pierre Barbizet, Carter Brey and Emmanuel Strosser.

Born in Saint-Quentin, France, Mr. Gronnier began his musical studies at the Conservatoire in Saint-Quentin, where he was awarded a Premier Prix in both violin and piano. He later studied with Madeleine Thuillier-Deverge at the Conservatoire National de Region de Versailles, where he received a Gold Medal. He continued his studies with Michele Auclair at the Conservatoire National in Paris and was awarded a full scholarship to Tulsa University (OK) as a student of the renowned French violinist Nell Gotkovsky. Additional teachers that influenced Mr. Gronnier include Sally Thomas and Zino Francescatti. In addition to his work with the Quartet, Mr. Gronnier is a member of the faculty at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

Violist Thomas Diener is a founding member of the Rossetti String Quartet. He has performed internationally in recital, with orchestra and as a collaborator in chamber music ensembles. Music festivals at which he has performed include France's Festival Mediterranean and Festival de Prades, Norway's Stavanger Festival and Portugal's Sintra Festival.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Mr. Diener began his viola studies at age eleven, and went on to win a scholarship to the National Academy of the Arts in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where he studied with Paul Rolland, Guillermo Perich and Gabriel Magyar of the Hungarian Quartet. He continued his studies at Mannes College of Music under the tutelage of Lotte Bamberger and William Lincer. Mr. Diener has participated in master classes with the Emerson, Cleveland, Tokyo, Stradivari, Pro Arte and Vermeer string quartets. A proponent for musical education, he has coached young musicians in chamber music ensembles for The Juilliard School's High School for the Performing Arts and Pre-College division.

Cellist Eric Gaenslen is also active as a soloist. He has performed nationally and abroad in recital, with orchestras and in chamber music ensembles. Recent highlights include the 2003 world premiere of Siddartha for cello and string orchestra by Laura Canibucci, and a performance of Bloch's Shelomo at New York's Avery Fisher Hall. Chamber music performances at music festivals include Lincoln Center, Aspen, Evian, Tanglewood, Bowdoin, Banff and Mozart Festival (Vermont). Among the artists with whom Mr. Gaenslen has collaborated are Eugene Istomin, Anton Kuerti and Itzhak Schotten.

Born in San Francisco, California, Mr Gaenslen received his Bachelor of Music degree from Yale University and his Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School. His teachers include Joel Krosnick, Robert Mann, Aldo Parisot, William Pleeth and Irene Sharp.