Classical Music News

Meadowmount School of Music Awards Second Annual Gurrena Fellowship

August 17, 2023

3 MIN READ

Brazilian cellist Luiz Fernando Venturelli received the $50,000 fellowship

Meadowmount School of Music, the summer program for young string players founded by violin pedagogue Ivan Galamian in Westport, NY, created the Gurrena Fellowship in 2022. Founded in memory of David A. Barnebl, a passionate music lover, by his wife, Linda Gurrena Barnebl, of Panton, VT, the $50,000 Fellowship supports talented students in their professional journey.

The fellowship is specifically tailored for postgraduate students who will benefit from financial assistance as they transition from their musical training to independent careers. During the Fellowship year, the recipient receives a generous housing allowance, professional artist management consulting, featured concert engagements supported by Meadowmount School of Music, and continued collaborations and training with the Meadowmount faculty for the upcoming year and 2024 summer session.

Meadowmount Artistic Director Janet Sung announced Brazilian cellist Luiz Fernando Venturelli as the 2023 recipient.

A graduate of Northwestern University under Professor Hans Jensen, Luiz Fernando Venturelli has spent eight summers at the Meadowmount School of Music.

Luiz has been a top prize winner in multiple competitions including the 2023 Astral Artists Competition, the Paulo Bosisio competition, the Samuel and Eleanor Thaviu String competition, the Solo Competitions of the Orquestra Filarmônica de Goiás, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, and Northwestern University — as well as the 24th Annual Sphinx Competition.

Luiz has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo, the Bahia Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, the Espírito Santo Symphony, the Campinas Symphony, the Piracicaba Symphony, the Heliópolis Symphony, the São Paulo University Symphony, and the SESI Chamber Orchestra.

Luiz is also a member of the award-winning Galvin Cello Quartet, formed in 2021 at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern, which recently won the silver medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition and the Concert Artists Guild’s 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition.

“I'm truly honored to be the recipient of Meadowmount School of Music's 2023 Gurrena Fellowship," Luiz said. "A decade ago, as a 13-year-old from Brazil, stepping into Meadowmount opened doors to a new world of music and friendships. Meeting Hans Jensen, my mentor, set my life on its current course. Now, through this fellowship, I'm excited to continue my education and further build a career in the US. Meadowmount's impact has been life-changing for me and many others. I accept this award with gratitude and a commitment to share its influence in the future. My thanks to Meadowmount and everyone involved, I am excited for what comes next.”

“We are thrilled to award the 2023 Gurrena Fellowship to cellist Luiz Fernando Venturelli,” said Artistic Director Janet Sung. “An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, Luiz is a fantastic cellist with a uniquely creative voice and the ideal recipient of this award. We look forward to working closely with Luiz and supporting his future musical endeavors as he embarks on this next phase of his musical career.”