Short biography

Marlene Romeo is as passionate about teaching as performing as a freelance professional violinist. She began teaching violin in 2007 at the West Australian Music School, after being awarded an Associate Diploma (AMusA) from the Australian Music Examination Board. In 2010 she moved to further her musical studies in Germany and completed her Bachelor of Music (Violin performance and pedagogy) & Master of Music (Violin performance) with High Distinctions from the Hochschule für Musik, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz & Master of Music (Baroque violin) with High Distinction from the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. There she has taught violin and piano privately as well as at several music schools. She also taught musicianship classes at various Early Learning Centres in Frankfurt.

Additionally she has worked with professional orchestras in Europe and is currently freelancing with orchestras and various ensembles in Australia, including the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Pinchgut Opera and Australian Haydn Ensemble.
She has performed in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Russia, China, Singapore, Australia and Germany, including with artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Nigel Kennedy.

Currently she is based in Perth, an Australian Music Examinations Board examiner, committee member of the AUSTA String Teachers Association, an Accredited Teaching Member of the West Australian Music Teachers' Association and offers violin lessons at Marlene’s Violin Studio in Willagee for ages 3 and above for all levels. She specialises in preparing students for AMEB exams, auditions and competitions. Marlene is also Violin Tutor at Methodist Ladies' College, and remains in high demand as a freelance violinist.

Long biography

The Australian violinist, Marlene Romeo (née Crone), was born in Sydney and began learning the violin at age 7 from Hooi Tong Lee, followed by Daniel Ispas and Jacek Slawomirski. From 2005 - 2009 she was holder of the Ohman Music Scholarship at Methodist Ladies College in Perth. She was awarded in 2005 3rd place in the U/16 Instrumental Solo section at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales.

In 2010 she moved to Germany to study at the College of Music in Mainz (Johannes-Gutenberg-University) completing her Bachelor of Music successfully under the tutelage of Prof. Ervis Gega. Following this she completed her Master of Music in 2017 studying with Prof. Benjamin Bergmann. She also wrote the English translation of her professor`s publication "Fit in 15 Minutes for Violin" published by Schott Music. In July 2021 she completed her second Masters specialising in Baroque Violin also with High Distinction under the guidance of Prof. Petra Müllejans and Prof. Mechthild Karkow with harpsichord as her secondary instrument at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. 

She has worked with many orchestras in Europe including the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, Hessisches Staatsorchester Wiesbaden, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz, Schleswig Holstein Music Festival Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss am Rhein, Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim, Mannheim Philharmonic, Klassische Philharmonie Bonn and taken part in Vienna Philharmonic`s International Orchestra Institute Attergau, under the baton of maestros such as Christoph Eschenbach, Manfred Honeck, Simon Rattle, Konrad Junghänel, Patrick Lange, Radosław Szulc, Michael Sanderling, Nigel Kennedy, Kristjan Järvi, Christoph Koncz, and Jonathon Stockhammer. Marlene has also toured as part of Andrea Bocelli`’s orchestra in Germany and Switzerland. In November 2020 Sony Classical released Baltic Sea Philharmonic`s "Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty" album, which the orchestra recorded completely from memory in St. Petersburg.

As a Baroque violinist she performed regularly with early music ensembles such as Neumeyer Consort, Orchestre de Chambre de Colmar and Bachorchester Mainz, directed by conductors including Ton Koopman, Felix Koch, Ralf Otto, Wolfgang Katschner and Andreas Scholl. With Bachorchester Mainz they recorded J.S. Bach`s St Matthew Passion, St John Passion and the Christmas Oratorio for Naxos to critical acclaim. As soloist and/or part of various orchestras she has been broadcasted on German, Austrian, Dutch, Welsh and ABC radio.

She has enjoyed performing in the Netherlands (Concertgebouw Amsterdam), France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Russia (Mariinsky Theater), China, Singapore, Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth) and around most of Germany, including in the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Beethovenhalle Bonn, Rosengarten Mannheim, Kurhaus Wiesbaden, Philharmonie Berlin and Cologne.

Marlene has also been privileged to take part in masterclasses with Stephan Picard, Sebastian Hamann, Friedemann Eichhorn, Christoph Schickedanz, Bernhard Forck, Jesper Christensen, Kristin von der Goltz, Michael Schneider, Tim Vogler (Vogler Quartet), Arnold Steinhardt (Guarneri Quartet) and Valentin Erben (Alban Berg Quartet).

Since returning to Australia mid-2021 Marlene has performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Australian Haydn Ensemble, Pinchgut Opera - Orchestra of the Antipodes, HIP Company, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Australian Baroque and continues to be invited to perform in Germany. 

It brings Marlene much joy and honour to share her love for music with students and to guide and inspire them on their musical journey. Currently she is based in Perth, an Australian Music Examinations Board examiner, committee member of the AUSTA String Teachers Association, an Accredited Teaching Member of the West Australian Music Teachers' Association and offers violin lessons at Marlene's Violin Studio in Willagee for ages 3 and above for all levels. She specialises in preparing students for AMEB exams, auditions and competitions. Marlene is also Violin Tutor at Methodist Ladies' College, and remains in high demand as a freelance violinist.