Stefano Montanari graduated cum laude in Violin and Piano. He focused his studies on historically informed practice. Since 1995, he is the first violin at the Accademia Bizantina in Ravenna, ensemble specialises in the performance of 18th-19th Century quartets, played with authentic instruments. He collaborates with leading exponents in the field of early music, particularly with Christophe Rousset and his ensemble, Les Talents Lyriques. He teaches Baroque Violin at both the International Academy of Music in Milan and the "E.V. Dall’Abaco" Music Conservatory in Verona. He conducted Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Baroque Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, for a Christmas concert in 2007 and for a gala in honor of the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification, events that were both live broadcast on national television. As conductor he is regular guest in theaters such as: Teatro “Coccia” in Novara, Teatro del Giglio in Lucca, Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo, Teatro “La Fenice” in Venice, Opéra de Lyon, Opera Atelier in Toronto. He is Principal Director of the “Jugendspodium Dresden-Venice” project. His recording of Corelli’s Violin Sonatas op. 5 for Arts received widespread recognition and numerous international prizes, including a Diapason d’Or and Midem as the best Baroque Music Cd of the year(2007/2010). He was recently nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Classical Vocal Solo) for his recording of Purcell’s O Solitude. His Cd Sonate e Partite by J.S.Bach is published for Italian magazine Amadeus and he is also edited a Baroque Violin method for Carisch.