Barbara Govatos, Violin

Violinist Barbara Govatos holds the Robert E. Mortensen endowed chair in the First Violin Section of the Philadelphia Orchestra and was given the 2012 C. Hartman Kuhn
Award for enhancing the standards and the reputation of the Fabulous Philadelphians. She and pianist Marcantonio Barone received Samuel Sanders Collaborative Artists
award from the Classical Recording Foundation in recognition of their recording of the complete Beethoven Sonatas for violin and piano on Bridge Records.

A graduate of the Juilliard School, Ms. Govatos’ mentors included Jascha Brodsky, Ivan Galamian, Felix Galimir, Josef Gingold, Robert Mann and Mischa Schneider. She was
Music Director of the Academy Chamber Players (1984-1990), the Delaware Chamber Music Festival (1990-2017), has been a frequent collaborator on the Philadelphia
Orchestra’s Chamber Music Series and guest artist with the Lenape Chamber Ensemble. Her repertoire spans many centuries, including works by women, and the
Italian Baroque with the Amerita Ensemble. She has been heard in solo and chamber music concerts at the Marlboro, Salzburg, Saratoga, Maggio Musicale, Marblehead and
Music at Gretna Festivals and at Carnegie’s Weill Hall.

Ms. Govatos teaches privately in her studio in Center City, Philadelphia. Her teaching puts emphasis on strengthening a student’s technique in service to the freedom of their musical expression and reducing physical tension.