Dana Maiben

Violinist and conductor Dana Maiben, hailed by the Boston Globe for her “supremely joyous artistry,” has earned international recognition for her performances of the 17th-century solo violin and ensemble repertory. She was a founder member of the groundbreaking ensemble for 17th century music, Concerto Castello, whose debut recording,  Affetti Musicali, was nominated for a Deutsche Schallplatten Preise,  and for whom she designed and co-directed the 1985 Schuetz anniversary  celebration concert for the Boston Early Music Festival. Colin Tilney, writing in Continuo Magazine, cited her as “high priestess of the  Italian 17th century solo.” In 2003 Maiben launched a new ensemble for 17th century music, Concerto Incognito.

Miss Maiben is founding music director of the new ensemble Foundling, a baroque orchestra and women’s advocacy project based Providence,  Rhode Island. She plays principal violin for Arcadia Players, Apollo Ensemble, and Ensemble Abendmusik, and has served as concertmaster of the New York Collegium under the direction of Christophe Rousset,  Martin Gester, Paul Goodwin, and Andrew Parrott. Maiben frequently  performs with her principal teacher, violinist Jaap Schroeder, with Arcadia Players Trio, and in duo with fortepianist Monika Jakuc.  Recording credits include projects for Centaur, Dorian, EMI, and Hyperion.

Dana Maiben lived and worked in Rochester , New York from 1978-1988,  where she taught at the Eastman School of Music, and served as  founding music director of the Genesee Baroque Players, and as  co-founder of the Genesee Early Music Guild. More recently she has been a frequent guest performer with the Rochester Bach Festival and Publick  Musick. Since 1989 Maiben has served on the faculty of the Longy School  of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she teaches violin and  medieval, renaissance, baroque, and classical performance practice,  coaches chamber music, and occasionally directs opera. Her own opera, Look and Long, based on the play by Gertrude Stein, was presented in staged workshop at Smith College in 1998.