Duo Novae: Ambroise Aubrun, violin and Kate Hamilton, viola

Dr. Aubrun, Associate Professor of Violin at UNLV and Artistic Director of the Henry Bruman Summer Chamber Music Series at UCLA, and Kate Hamilton, Associate Professor of Viola and Co-Director of the International Chamber Music Festival in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, are committed educators who have led master classes worldwide. Together, they formed Duo Novae in 2019. Their recordings on Hortus, Centaur, and Navona labels have garnered international acclaim. The upcoming recital will present music ranging from the Baroque era to contemporary pieces.

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Ambroise Aubrun, violin: Hailed as a “marvelous violinist” (France Musique) with “sensitive tone” (Pizzicato Magazine) and “tremendous ease, suppleness and beauty of sound” (Nice-Matin), violinist Ambroise Aubrun enjoys a career as a sought-after soloist, chamber and orchestral musician and pedagogue. He has performed extensively on four continents and has conducted Master Classes in North America (Québec, California, Oregon, New York, Wisconsin, Nevada, Utah, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico), France, Italy, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.

His albums for the Editions Hortus and Navona Records have embraced a wide range of repertoire from J.S. Bach to Tanguy (b.1968) and received praise of the highest caliber (5 stars Pizzicato Journal, “editor's choice” on France Musique, and a nomination for the 2021 International Classical Music Awards). His performances and albums have been broadcast on CBS, ABC, WFMT Chicago, France Musique, 3MBS Melbourne (Australia), Klara Radio (Belgium), KPFK Los Angeles, KNCJ Nevada, WTUL New-Orleans, and K-USC Los Angeles.

He has served as guest concertmaster of the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico, and is a regular guest of the Los Angeles Philharmonic violin sections.

Aubrun graduated at age 19 from the Paris National Superior Conservatory, and then studied at UCLA (D.M.A.) at the Colburn Conservatory of Music (Artist Diploma). He is the winner of the Charles Oulmont Prize of the Fondation de France and laureate of the Langart Foundation in Switzerland, the recipient of the UNLV Barrick Scholar Award for outstanding achievement in Creative Activities and the CSUN Faculty Achievement Award. Currently Associate Professor of Violin at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Aubrun previously taught at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and UC Santa Barbara. He is the artistic director of the Bruman Chamber Music Festival at UCLA. 

Aubrun plays a Matteo Goffriller violin, on a generous loan from the Langart Foundation. More information at www.ambroiseaubrun.com

Kate Hamilton, viola: is described by Minnesota Public Radio as “hot viola playing, she uses her bow to draw out a rich stew of colors...and has a sound like liquid gold”. Additionally, a 2025 review by LA Opus describes her “gorgeous sound”.

She enjoys an international career as Associate Professor of Viola at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and serves as Co-Director of the International Chamber Music Festival in Joao Pessoa, Brazil. Since 2019, she has been performing in the viola section of the Berlin Philharmonic (Germany) at the Berlin Philharmonie Concert Hall under Sir Simon Rattle, Herbert Blomsteadt, Paavo Jarvi, and the final performances of Bernard Haitink with the Berlin Philharmonic.

As a viola soloist, Kate has been featured with the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra (China) performing works of Max Bruch at the the Qintai Concert Hall, the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, Central Oregon Symphony, and the Chamber Orchestra of San Jose (Costa Rica).

Recent chamber music performances include viola quintets with members of the Berlin Philharmonic in Leipzig, “Duo Novae” tour of New Zealand and Australia, and the Musica Maestri Series at the Milan Conservatory (Italy). In August, 2025, Duo Novae will be featured as soloists with the Festival Orchestra at the International Chamber Music Festival in Joao Pessoa, Brazil.

Host or Publisher Calliope: East Bay Music & Arts