Music has been my companion since I was 5 years old and has determined all of my choices and travels across the World. My clarinet and I have been travelling through Italy, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, the UK, Spain, France, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Tanzania, Turkey, Israel, and Canada, embracing everything that life could offer. What I learned from travelling is that judgment is the number one offender of communication, creativity and spontaneity. I understood that there are billions of Truths, and I always need to use as little filters as I can. I realized that, even though I grew up in a specific and defined culture, I can mirror myself and find common views with other human beings who grew up on the other side of the planet.
In the past years, and thanks to the GLOMAS experience, I had fantastic opportunities to work with musicians coming from different cultural backgrounds. We searched for the best way to engage in the creative process together: overcoming boundaries, understanding limits, and recognizing the value of (any kind of) communication as the essential ingredient of an honest musical encounter. Most of the time, these encounters ended up being meaningful, long-lasting friendships and professional collaborations.
I consider improvisation and free improvisation important tools for developing a connection, especially when following impulses of the present moment in a dialogical way, with authentic and open listening. I really enjoy performing in so-called sound painting ensembles, and circus & theatre projects, as well as performing and working on graphic notation.
Teaching: I offer individual and group classes in clarinet as well as in Klezmer style and ensemble. At the moment I am leading at Paideia Folkhögskola a fantastic ensemble of amateur and professional musicians. I pay particular attention to ear training and body awareness while playing, creating individual practising routines for each student, and formulating targeted exercises to overcome challenges and train the brain and body.
My students say of me:
“Valeria is very kind and knowledgeable!” - Participant in Paideia folkhögskola's Klezmer Course Fall 2021
"Valeria is a very committed and skilled educator. She creates a good atmosphere, knows what she wants and promptly responds to the student's needs and desires" - Participant in Paideia folkhögskola's Klezmer Course Fall 2021