Swiss violinist Etienne Abelin, recipient of the 1998 Friedl-Wald Stiftung Award (Switzerland), is an internationally acclaimed soloist, chamber and orchestra musician. Pierre Boulez characterizes him as “an outstanding musician”, the San Antonio Express-News writes: “His superb sense of rhythm and his astute articulation allowed the music to breathe and its specific gestures to express themselves.” The Swiss newspaper Der Bund described him as “a breathtaking poet”. Abelin has performed chamber music with musicians like Maxim Vengorov, Hans-Heinz Schneeberger and the Swiss Charmillon Piano Quartet. From 1997–1999, Abelin held the position of the principal second violin in the European Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez and Seiji Ozawa. Abelin performs with Apollo’s Fire, the Handel & Haydn Society, the Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra , the New England String Ensemble, with the Orchestre Philharmonique Suisse and as concertmaster in the Basel Sinfonietta. From 2003–2005, he will join the Lucerne Festival Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado. Etienne Abelin performs on a 1780 V. Panormo violin and a 1740 J. Leidolff baroque violin.