American violinist and violist, Karina Schmitz, came to Australia in 2019 and is
thrilled to find herself immersed in the rich and vibrant musical scene in her new
home. She also appears as principal violist with the Australian Haydn Ensemble and
in nineteenth-century period trio Notturno. She has performed with the Australian
Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, Van Diemen’s
Band, Salut! Baroque, and Ensemble Galante.

In the United States, Karina was principal violist of Handel & Haydn Society in
Boston, principal violist of Apollo’s Fire in Cleveland, principal violist of the Carmel
Bach Festival in California, and founding violinist/violist with New York based 17th
century ensemble ACRONYM. Karina holds viola performance degrees from New
England Conservatory of Music (Boston) and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Karina plays on a copy of a Brothers Mantegazza viola she commissioned from
Canadian maker, Francis Beaulieu, in 2011.

Bio updated Mar 2025