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Born in Madrid to a family of musicians, Marina Alba began playing the violin at the age of seven. Her mother, a pianist and chamber music professor, and her father, a world-music cellist, nurtured her musical journey from an early age. Marina’s formal education in Spain took place in Madrid and Málaga, before she moved to the United States to further her studies.
Currently, Marina is pursuing her Master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music as a student of the prestigious Zukerman Program, where she is a recipient of the IAB full-tuition scholarship. There, she has the honor of studying under the guidance of legendary violinists Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec.
Over the years, Marina has performed at some of the world’s most renowned venues, such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Kulturpalast in Dresden, Neidorff-Karpati Hall, and Francis Auditorium at Mary Baldwin University. She has also performed at the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid, Musical Arts Center at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Moritzburg Castle in Germany, among other prestigious locations such as Madrid's Cibeles’ Palace and Maria Cristina Hall in Málaga.
Marina’s remarkable talent has earned her several significant accolades, including First Prize at the III Forum Musikae International Competition, the Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar Award (2024), and the AFSF 2022 Opportunity Award. She has also received the Adolfo Salazar End of Studies Award and the AIE Grant for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023). Throughout her career, Marina has had the privilege of studying and performing under the mentorship of several esteemed artists, including Pinchas Zukerman, Vadim Gluzman, Daniel Phillips, Rudolf Koelman, Grigory Kalinovsky, Sarah Chang, and Krzysztof Wegrzyn. These experiences have helped her refine her artistry, allowing her to perform in masterclasses and music festivals around the world.
A graduate Summa Cum Laude from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in May 2024, Marina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance with a minor in Jazz Studies. At IU, she studied with Grigory Kalinovsky and the Pacifica Quartet, and received the Young Premier Artist Scholarship. She also held leadership positions within the IU Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as Concertmaster, Assistant Concertmaster, and Principal Second Violin, where she performed under conductors Thomas Wilkins and Arthur Fagen.
Marina has premiered several new compositions, such as “Pirueta y Perspectiva” (2019) by Javier López de Guereña, “Obra para Orquesta de Cuerda” (2020) by Fernando Arroyo Lascurrain, and “Rats Don’t Pay Subway Fare”(2022) by Matthew Levin. She was also part of the premiere of “Anne Frank”, an opera composed by Shulamit Ran, where she played as Assistant Concertmaster of the IU Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2024, Marina was part of the Heifetz on Tour ensemble, performing in various venues across Rhode Island, Maine, and Virginia, including Washington D.C. and Staunton, showcasing her growing prominence in the music world. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to perform in high-profile venues such as the Hirshhorn Museum (Smithsonian, Washington D.C.), the Kreeger Museum (Washington D.C.), Centro Centro Cibeles (Madrid), and IU Auer Hall (Bloomington), among others.
Marina’s ever-expanding performance schedule and impressive repertoire reflect her status as an emerging artist on the international stage. Her passion for both classical, contemporary and jazz music continues to inspire audiences and elevate her career as she moves forward with an ever-deepening commitment to her craft.
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