Geneva Lewis, violin; Emma Wernig, viola; Jay Campbell, cello

Now in its third season, Marlboro Music’s artist residency program brings exceptional chamber music ensembles to Marlboro's southern Vermont campus throughout the year for deep creative work and concert offerings. Each group is in residence for 1 to 3 weeks, enjoying concentrated time together in a retreat-like environment where they can rehearse new repertoire, prepare for recording projects, develop community engagement programs, and more. Every ensemble in residence includes at least one Marlboro Music artist, and each residency culminates with a free informal concert, in which the groups share the results of their work with our local community.

This residency concert spotlights the string trio arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations, performed by Marlboro Music participants Geneva Lewis, violin and Jay Campbell, cello with Emma Wernig, viola.

About the Artists

Geneva Lewis, violin

Geneva Lewis is a New Zealand-born violinist celebrated for performances that speak directly to the heart, earning her recognition as "clearly one to watch" from Musical America. Her honors include the 2022 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and Grand Prize at the 2020 Concert Artists Guild Competition, along with a spot as a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist from 2022 to 2024. Deeply passionate about chamber music, Geneva has had the pleasure of collaborating with prominent musicians such as Jonathan Biss, Glenn Dicterow, Miriam Fried, Kim Kashkashian, Gidon Kremer, András Schiff, and Mitsuko Uchida. Geneva has performed in venues and festivals such as London’s Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Marlboro Music, Kronberg Festival, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Ravinia and Chamberfest Cleveland. She trained at the Colburn School with Aimée Kreston and later earned her Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory studying with Miriam Fried. She currently performs on a composite Guadagnini violin from 1776, on loan from a charitable trust.

Emma Wernig, viola

Emma Wernig is a German-Austrian violist who has quickly become recognized for her expressive artistry and distinctive musical voice. Her early competition successes included the Barbirolli Prize at the 2019 Tertis International Viola Competition and the 2017 Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition. As a member of the Chimera Quartet, she won the Gold Medal and Best Haydn Performance at the 2016 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition and first place at the inaugural M-Prize Chamber Music Competition, while the Incendium Quartet won the Gold Medal in the Junior Category at the 2015 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, earning a feature on NPR's From the Top. She has since collaborated with artists including Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer, Steven Isserlis, Christian Tetzlaff, and Tabea Zimmermann, and has appeared at festivals such as the Verbier Festival, Krzyzowa Music, and Kronberg's Chamber Music Connects the World. She is now the violist of the acclaimed Doric String Quartet, based in London.

Jay Campbell, cello

Praised by The New York Times for his “electrifying performances” which “conveyed every nuance,” American celist Jay Campbell holds the distinction of being the only artist ever to receive two Avery Fisher Career Grants, first in 2016 as a soloist, then breaking convention with his second in 2019 as a member of the JACK Quartet. Armed with a diverse repertoire and eclectic musical interests, Campbell is applauded for his probing curiosity and emotional commitment to old and new works alike. Evidence of his manifold tastes is the wide range of his colaborators, including composers Eliott Carter, Pierre Boulez, David Lang, and John Zorn, as well as members of Radiohead and Einstürzende Neubauten. Recipient of awards from the BMI and ASCAP foundations, Jay was also First Prize winner of the 2012 Concert Artists Guild auditions, and Second Prize winner of the 2015 Walter W. Naumburg International Cello Competition, competing against more than a hundred cellists worldwide. He holds an Artist Diploma, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juiliard School, where he was a student of Fred Sherry. He plays a cello crafted in the 1750s by Italian luthier Paolo Antonio Testore of Milan.