Richard Leo Tognetti AO was born on 4 August 1965 and is a leading Australian musician recognised internationally as a violin soloist, ensemble player, leader, composer and arranger, conductor and artistic director.
15 Facts About Richard Tognetti
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Richard Tognetti is currently artistic director and leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and artistic director of the Festival Maribor in Maribor, Slovenia.
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Richard Tognetti was raised in Wollongong where he began his violin studies with Harold Brissenden, the retired Scottish violist William Primrose and his wife Hiroko who was a Suzuki method specialist.
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Richard Tognetti's teacher was Alice Waten, herself a graduate of the Moscow Conservatoire and former student of Valery Klimov and David Oistrakh.
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In 1987 Richard Tognetti left Australia for post-graduate studies with Igor Ozim at the Bern Conservatory.
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On return to Australia that same year Richard Tognetti was appointed first as leader and then as artistic director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, a remarkable development for a musician just 25 years old at the time.
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Richard Tognetti himself is an extremely versatile violinist with repertoire that covers all periods from the Baroque onwards.
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Richard Tognetti uses a number of violins according to need, most frequently the 1743 Guarneri del Gesu violin he has on extended loan from an anonymous owner.
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Richard Tognetti has been a longstanding collaborator with Oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros, with their album Concerto of the Greater Sea winning the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2012.
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In March 2023, Tawadros and Richard Tognetti were again live with the ACO in their concert Four Seasons at Hamer Hall, Melbourne.
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Richard Tognetti has performed with various musicians from different genres including an appearance with Scottish classical accordionist James Crabb at the Opening Ceremony of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
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Richard Tognetti is married to violinist Satu Vanska, the assistant leader of the ACO.
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Richard Tognetti has a brother, Simon Tognetti who is an Arts teacher in Wollongong, Australia.
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In 1997 Richard Tognetti received an honorary Doctor of Creative Arts degree from the University of Wollongong, the youngest recipient ever to receive such an award from that university.
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In 1999 Richard Tognetti was declared a National Living Treasure, an award administered by the National Trust of Australia and based on popular vote.