The Leonis Trio – the Swiss pianist Norina Hirschi, the Italian cellist Leonardo Preitano and the Swiss-French-Russian violinist Thaïs Louvert – came together in 2024 while studying at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).
The three young musicians study in Zurich with Prof. Sergey Malov, Claudius Herrmann (Gringolts Quartet) and Prof. Hans-Jürg Strub.
In August 2024 the ensemble took part in the Filippo Nicosia masterclass at the Villa Medici Giulini in Briosco (Italy). Although only recently founded, the trio was invited in autumn 2024 to join the Le Dimore del Quartetto network.
In October 2024 the trio passed the entrance examination for the Artist Diploma programme at the Accademia Stauffer (Cremona, Italy), where they have since been studying together in the class of the Quartetto di Cremona. The Leonis Trio has also benefited from the guidance of great artists such as Marc Danel (Quatuor Danel), Andrea Lucchesini, Günter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet), Eckart Runge (founding member of the Artemis Quartet), Oliver Wille (Kuss Quartet) and the Jean Paul Trio.
In March 2025 the trio won second prize at the Kiwanis Music Prize in Zurich.
Photo: Mateja Milovanovic