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I Solisti di Miami Founders

At the heart of I Solisti di Miami is a profound connection to Italy, embodied by our three founders—violinist Bettina Mussumeli, violist Jodi Levitz, and cellist Cecilia Di Cecco. Each brings a wealth of experience rooted in Italian musical traditions, enhancing the ensemble’s authentic interpretation of Italian Baroque music and beyond. Together, the founders’ collective experience and connection to Italy ensure that every performance by I Solisti di Miami radiates with authenticity, elegance, and a true appreciation for the heritage of Italian Baroque music.

Bettina Mussumeli founder artistic director and violinist as well as professor at the Frost School of Music in Miami

Bettina Mussumeli, violin

Violin soloist, pedagogue, and clinician Bettina Mussumeli enjoys a storied and varied career as a concert artist on the great stages of the world. While completing her artist diploma at the Juilliard School, in addition to being selected as a finalist at the New York Philharmonic violin auditions, she was offered the position of co-concertmaster and violin soloist of the Italian chamber orchestra “I Solisti Veneti”, a world famous chamber orchestra which performed over 200 concerts yearly around the world. With this orchestra, she toured for nine years as featured soloist, and recorded numerous discs, including seminal recordings of the Pergolesi violin concerto and Vivaldi “L’estro Armonico”, still frequently heard on classical radio stations today. A gifted performer on original instruments, she also recorded works by Salomone Rossi, Alessandro Scarlatti and Arcangelo Corelli with noted harpsichordist and scholar Emanuela Marcante. Ms. Mussumeli returned to the United States in 2001 to join the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as professor of violin and chamber music. Her students at SFCM include winners and finalists of numerous competitions, including the Menuhin, Paganini and Stradivarius competitions, as well as outstanding professional violinists working throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. While in San Francisco, Bettina was first violinist of the Ives Quartet for 10  years, with whom she recorded a benchmark collection of the Quincy Porter quartets for the Naxos label, as well as commissioning over 10 new string quartets and performing throughout the United  States. Commuting between her homes in Miami and Northern Italy, she is currently serving on the faculty of the Frost School of Music and the Zephyr Chamber Music Festival, and she maintains a varied concert calendar as both soloist and chamber musician.

Jodi Levitz founder and violist professor at the Frost School of Music

Jodi Levitz, viola

Jodi Levitz is an acclaimed violist and a passionate educator, currently serving as Professor of Viola and String Program Director at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. With a distinguished career spanning over four decades, she has captivated audiences worldwide with her expressive performances and technical prowess. A versatile artist, Jodi has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in renowned venues and festivals across the globe. For twelve years she was principal viola and soloist with the critically acclaimed Italian chamber group “I Solisti Veneti”, a position she attained while still a student at The Juilliard School of Music. Her extensive repertoire ranges from classical masterworks to contemporary compositions, showcasing her commitment to musical diversity and innovation. Her numerous recordings have further solidified her reputation as a leading violist of her generation. As an educator, Jodi is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of violists. A recipient of the Sarlo Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching, her teaching philosophy emphasizes both technical excellence and artistic expression, guiding students to develop their unique musical voices. Her students have achieved remarkable success, winning major competitions and securing prestigious professional engagements, a testament to her inspiring mentorship. Before joining the Frost School of Music, Jodi taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), where she made a significant impact on her students and the institution. Jodi's contributions to the field of viola performance and education have earned her recognition and respect from colleagues and critics alike. Whether on stage or in the classroom, she continues to share her love for the viola and its rich, sonorous voice.

Cecilia Di Cecco cellist, chef of AperitiVip, and founder of I Solisti di Miami

Cecilia Di Cecco, cello

Cecilia Di Cecco is an accomplished Italian cellist with over three decades of experience performing on international stages. She holds a degree in Cello Performance from the prestigious *Conservatorio Cesare Pollini* in Padua, Italy, and has studied with distinguished teachers such as David Cole (USA), Toshiaki Hayashi (Japan), Marianne Chen, and Enrico Egano (Italy). Cecilia has performed with numerous renowned orchestras, including the Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana, Orchestra del Teatro di Cagliari, Orchestra del Teatro di Sassari, Orchestra Verdi di Milano, and the Orchestra do Norte in Portugal. From 1998 to 2003, she was a key cellist at the *Tiroler Festival Erl* under the direction of Gustav Kuhn. She had the opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned artists like Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli. A specialist in baroque music, Cecilia has performed with prestigious ensembles such as *Camerata Strumentale Veneta*, working alongside violinist Giuliano Carmignola and cellist Mario Brunello, and *Camerata Anxanum*, with whom she toured Europe, performing in esteemed venues like the Holywell Music Room in Oxford and St Martin in the Fields in London. She has also worked with distinguished soloists including M. Spadano, M. Berghella, K. Gilbert, and S. Azzolini. Her international career took her to Southern Africa, where she performed with the *KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra* (KZNPO) in Durban from 2004 to 2014. As a soloist with *Baroque 2000*, she performed in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Mozambique, bringing baroque music to diverse audiences. Currently based in Miami Beach, Florida, Cecilia continues to collaborate with esteemed musicians such as Bettina Mussumeli, Jodi Levitz, and I Solisti di Miami. She plays a 19th-century Marcucci Custode cello, adding depth and historical resonance to her performances.

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