Based in New York City, Francesca Abusamra is a violinist dedicated to creating an engaging and accessible musical experience. She is a founding member of the opus87 Piano Quartet, an ensemble that aims to bring both new music and classical repertoire to a variety of audiences. Their recent east coast summer tour included everything from performing in the rural woods of Maine to their culminating performance at Merkin Hall at Lincoln Center in NYC; their repertoire spanned from Haydn and Schumann to Walton and Weir.
As a prizewinner in the American Protégé concerto competition, Ms. Abusamra performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. She has also performed in the Detroit Symphony’s Orchestra Hall, playing the Bach Concerto for Two Violins with DSO Assistant Concertmaster Hai Xin Wu and chamber orchestra.
Ms. Abusamra is passionate about performances that interact with other artistic disciplines. Recently, she performed Hindemith Solo Sonata No. 2. in a collaboration with choreographer Allison Armstrong of Golden Hour Dance where live solo violin interacted with dancers. Abusamra also participated in a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Gloria at Symphony Space with the Manhattan School of Music Chamber Orchestra, together with Dakshina Indian Dance Company.
On television, she has appeared playing for the Real Housewives of New Jersey, and the Food Network’s Worst Chefs in America: Celebrity Edition. She also appears on the soundtrack for the independent film The Clovehitch Killer. Around the city, Ms. Abusamra regularly plays at the Morgan Library and Museum, and was a member of the resident ensemble at the Parish of Calvary-St. George’s for two years.
She also enjoys orchestral performances, regularly serving as principal second violin in the Manhattan School of Music orchestras. Ms. Abusamra is joining the Symphony of Westchester as a section violin beginning this season. She currently studies with Peter Winograd, first violinist of the American String Quartet, at Manhattan School of Music. Her violin is Jonathon I. Price.