Violist and director Jennifer Stumm has blazed a courageous creative path, her diverse projects mixing a searching intellectual curiosity, irrepressible musical enthusiasm and committed advocacy for social opportunity.

Known for the seductive power and “opal-like beauty” (Washington Post) of her sound, Jennifer appears on the world’s great stages like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Sala São Paulo, and the Wigmore Hall, London.

Her solo career was launched after victories in three major international competitions: William Primrose, Geneva, and Concert Artists Guild (where she was the first violist ever to win First Prize) and she swiftly earned a reputation as one of the world’s outspoken voices for the expressive possibilities of her instrument.

Her viral TEDx talk about the viola and the blessings of being different, “The Imperfect Instrument,” was named an editor’s pick of all TED talks and led to a solo debut at the Berlin Philharmonie. Jennifer has released two celebrated solo albums.

Jennifer is founder and director of Ilumina, the São Paulo-based chamber music collective, festival and social initiative, which has ascended rapidly to prominence as a modern model for 21st century creativity and efficient artist-led advancement of diverse talent. Ilumina unites leading international soloists with the best rising talent from Latin America, working and performing side-by-side in São Paulo at the Ilumina festival and on tour around the world. Jennifer’s flair for curation and stage direction has received much attention, and Ilumina concerts invite listeners to be immersed in dynamic musical worlds, steadfastly committed to interpretation, powered by the freshness and energy of cultural exchange.

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