Milena Marena

Milena Umiglia-Marena took her first lessons with her mother and began her formal training at age 9 with Rafael Rosenfeld, ultimately earning her Bachelor's degree at the Basel Music Academy under his guidance. Since September 2019, she has continued her studies with Thomas Grossenbacher at the Zurich University of the Arts.

Her musical talent has earned her recognition in various national and internationalcompetitions, including the Swiss Youth Music Competition (2012/2014/2016), Murten Classics Cello Competition (2018), Schenk Soloist Competition (2021), Kiwanis Soloist Competition in Zurich (2023), Vienna Classical Music Academy (2023), 19th International Padova Music Competition (2023), and the Slava International Cello Competition (2023). Additionally, she has excelled in chamber music, winning at events like the Swiss Chamber Music Competition Orpheus (2021), Kiwanis Chamber Music Competition Zurich (2022), and receiving the top prize from the Curt and Marian Dienemann Foundation (2023). Notably, she was a finalist in the Young Credit Suisse Competition with her former string quartet (2022). She was also awarded the Kammermusikpreis Hasselburg (2025).

Milena has been supported by scholarships from esteemed institutions such as the Friedl Wald Foundation and the International Lyceum Club Zurich, as well as the patronage of the Rolf and Trudy Aebi-Lüthy Foundation. She has furthered her musical education through master classes led by renowned figures including David Geringas, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Peter Bruns, Maximilian Hornung, and Reinhard Latzko, along with chamber music mentors like Eberhardt Feltz and Robert Levin. Collaborating with esteemed artists like Julia Fischer, Corina Belcea, Lucas Debargue, Eric LeSage, Alexander Sitkovetsky, and Nils Mönkemeyer, among others, Milena's chamber music pursuits continue to thrive, with future performances planned alongside Kian Soltani as well as Noa Wildschut.

Milena's soloist engagements showcase her talent across Switzerland, Italy, Argentina, Chile, and Spain, collaborating with orchestras such as the Neues Orchester Basel, Collegium Musicum Zug, Orquesta Sinfonica de Tucuman (ARG), Argovia Philharmonic, Zentralschweizer Jugendsinfonieorchester, orchestra di Padova e del Veneto (ITA), Ensemble Kuraia (ESP), Slovakian Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta de Concepcion (Chile), and the Musikkollegium Winterthur.

Notably, her audition for the 100% solo cello position in the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich in November 2021 earned her finalist status, securing a six-month temporary contract, subsequently extended until February 2023. In march 2025 she won the 50% solo cello position in Musikkollegium Winterthur. She is currently playing on a cello made by Alessandro Gagliano in Naples in 1715.