Cora Venus Lunny, now 25, has been playing the violin since before she could tie her shoelaces. Described as "one of the most extraordinary talents [Ireland] has ever produced" by broadcaster Gay Byrne, "astonishingly talented" by critic Michael Dervan, she continues to make her distinctive mark on all genres of music she comes in contact with.
Cora only ever had one aim in mind - to become as complete a musician as possible.
From the age of thirteen she studied intensively with world-renowned violinists including Rimma Sushanskaya, Joji Hattori, Alexander Arenkov, Arkady Futer, Lara Lev and Vladimir Spivakov.
Aged sixteen, she became the youngest ever RTE Musician of the Future and The Irish Times chose her to front their TV ad campaign representing the new face of Ireland. . When she began to play viola in 2005, her first performance was with Vladimir Spivakov, playing Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante.
In 2001, she was a laureate of the Sarasate International Violin Competition, to which she returned as a jury member in 2007. She also just completed a season as one of the three judges on RTE's new talent show for young performers, "Class Act".
Other highlights include joining Nigel Kennedy on a tour of Taiwan, Japan and New Zealand as second soloist; working with Damien Rice on his platinum selling album "9"; working on 3 critically acclaimed EPs with Fovea Hex; performing on the film scores to Screw Cupid and Ferris Wheel. The readers of Ireland's Hot Press music magazine voted her number 9 Irish Musician of 2007.
She is a core member of Fovea Hex , has recently joined Yurodny , and continues to perform classical repertoire as a chamber musician and soloist.
This year she will be releasing her first solo album.
"… a melody in Lunny's hands becomes something quite irresistible."
Andrew Johnstone, Irish Times
"Cora Venus Lunny has star quality in spades..."
The Saturday Telegraph
"Driven by some mysterious force... playing of a truly inspirational order"
The Irish Times
"Cora Venus Lunny's gorgeous arrangement of viola and violin plants a stiletto right in the heart."
Paristransatlantic.com
"There's a dynamic expressiveness in her playing that comes from constantly progressing from one nuanced shade to another."
Andrew Johnstone, Irish Times
"Soloist takes masterful lead in intimate display... Cora Venus Lunny once again displayed her skill and artistry"
Belfast Telegraph
"dazzling style... it was an evening for sitting back and being swept along on high emotion and passion"
Sunday Business Post, (Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, NCH)
