Biography
Praised for their powerful stage presence, the award-winning Estra Duo is a dynamic Italian ensemble which combines the crystalline colours of the soprano voice with the warm tones of the classical guitar. Estra Duo is a chamber music duo that was established in 2020 by Sofia Celenza and Aurora Orsini. Both coming from diverse artistic backgrounds, their mission is to draw their audiences deep into chamber music through innovative and unique performances.
Their formative years were shaped by mentorship from esteemed figures in the classical music world. Guided by Giampaolo Bandini, guitarist of the renowned Bandini-Chicchiaretta Duo, they honed their skills and developed their distinct artistic voice. Their dedication to musical excellence led them to participate in a Masterclass on Brazilian Music led by the celebrated guitarist Sergio Assad, further expanding their repertoire and musical horizons.
In addition to their training and mentorship, Estra Duo has established fruitful collaborations with esteemed institutions and organizations in Italy such as the Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti (IUC), Roma Tre Orchestra, Associazione Zetema Cultura, and the International Music Festival of Portogruaro, where they continue to showcase their talent and dedication to the chamber music tradition.
Estra Duo’s achievements extend beyond the concert stage, with notable successes in chamber music competitions. Their performances have garnered recognition, including the Second Prize at the International “Giulio Rospigliosi” Competition in Lamporecchio and the Special Prize “Emerging Artist Award” at the AEMC International Competition.
Beyond their achievements, Estra Duo’s artistry is characterized by a deep-seated passion for hybrid art and experimentation. They are keen explore the intersection of classical tradition and contemporary expression, and enjoy breaking the boundaries between art forms to make their performances more captivating. Their repertoire, which spans from 20th-century milestones like Benjamin Britten’s Folksongs Arrangements to Early Music, reflects their commitment to diversity and innovation.
Sofia Celenza
Praised by critics for ‘shining vocally and dramatically’ (Opera Today), Sofia Celenza is a versatile classical singer active in Italy and Europe. Initially a violinist, she later moved to Paris in 2013 where she discovered her true passion for singing. In 2019, she graduated from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London with a First Class Honours Bachelor’s degree with a silver medal for the best student in the singing faculty.
During her artistic journey, Sofia has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with luminaries such as Renata Scotto, Lisette Oropesa, Sara Mingardo, Ramon Vargas, and Barbara Hannigan, honing her skills under their expert guidance. As a soloist she has concertized for several theaters and concert platforms across Italy, England, France, Austria and India. Operatic roles include the lead role in the contemporary Serbian-language opera Svadba at the Queen’s House in London, Amphitrite in Purcell’s The Tempest, Belinda in Thea Musgrave’s A Christmas Carol, and Damigella in L’Incoronazione di Poppea. As concert soloist she has performed Händel’s Dixit Dominus, Ein Deutches Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Old Royal Naval Chapel Choir, the Indiana Symphony Orchestra, and the Brandenburg Symphonia. Sofia is also a dedicated choral singer, lending her voice to exceptional ensembles such as the Philharmonia Chorus of London and the Vatican Choir of the Liberian Music Chapel, with whom she has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Elbphilharmonie, Palau de la Musica (Valencia), and Nouveau Siecle (Lille).
Aurora Orsini
Aurora Orsini is a classical guitarist from Rome. As a soloist, she has performed in Italy, Spain, Hungary, and England. She recently obtained the “Master en Interpretacion de Guitarra Clasica” at the Universidad de Alicante, where she studied under distinguished guitar maestros including David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Pablo Marquez, Xavier Diaz-Latorre, and Sergio Assad. In 2020, she won the audition for a place in the orchestra of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale, where she later performed under the baton of Zubin Mehta. She collaborates both as an orchestral player and soloist with the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, the Istituzione Sinfonica Abruzzese, the Orchestra Archè, the Orchestra Boccherini, the Orchestra Musa, and the Orchestra Suoni del Sud. In 2017, she obtained her Diploma in Guitar with the highest marks. Subsequently she continued her studies at the Conservatoire “L. Boccherini” under the tutelage of Giampaolo Bandini, where she obtained a Master Degree. She concluded her studies in Italy by attending the Artist Diploma in Musical Interpretation for Guitar at the “Arrigo Boito” Conservatory in Parma, under the tutelage of Lorenzo Micheli and Stefano Grondona. Getting selected at a very young age at the Accademia Chigiana, she received the diploma of merit reserved for the best students of Maestro Oscar Ghiglia. In the summer of 2022, she was once again admitted to the class of the American Maestro Eliot Fisk. In Italy, she regularly collaborates with important theaters and associations, including the Teatro Goldoni, the Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti (IUC), and the Accademia Filarmonica Romana.
In addition to her intense concert activity, she dedicates herself musicological research. Thanks to a research grant, in 2022 she was a researcher at the Paul Sacher Foundation in Basel (Switzerland), one of the foremost archives of modern and contemporary music. She holds a degree in Musicology from “La Sapienza” University in Rome, with a thesis on the unpublished correspondence of the Italian composer Goffredo Petrassi.
