Mario Ruminelli

MARIO RUMINELLI was born in Domodossola on Oct. 6th, 1907.
His father Giulio was a piano teacher and was appreciated both as organist of Collegiata and conductor of the Civica Banda Musicale di Domodossola
(Civic Musical Band of Domodossola).
He came from the same land as Puccini and received Puccini’s praises for his activity as a musician.
Ruminelli studied at the Conservatoire “G. Verdi” in Milan under Maestro
Enrico Polo, Toscanini’s brother-in-law, who had been Joseph Joachim’s
pupil in Berlin.

Enrico Polo wrote arrangements for violin and founded a school which could boast many renowned Italian violinists of his time.
In 1926, at the age of 19, he made his diploma with maximum marks.
Maestro Polo said of him: “Among the students who have recently graduated,
one is very talented; if fortune favours him, he will undoubtedly have a brilliant career.
At various concerts given in Milan and other Italian towns he proved to be one of the best Italian violinists of our days”.

In fact, his career as concertist was rich and brilliant.
He played together with Gianandrea Gavazzeni and Massimo Amphiteatroff. Together with the instrumentalists Calace and Caruana he formed a trio who was successful in many Italian and foreign cities.
He was invited by Ildebrando Pizzetti to perform at the “Società del Quartetto” (Quartet Society) in Milan, where he received praises from the public and from the critics, praises which always accompanied his appearances in several Italian centres: his repertoire ranged from Bach to artists of the 19th century and contemporary composers.
On Dec. 8th, 1926 he played as guest soloist at the opening concert of the transmitting station URI in Milan.
One of his discs, recorded by La voce del Padrone,
was frequently broadcast by the Italian and the Swiss Radio.

After teaching at Music Schools in Milan and being judged fit for violin
teaching in Udine, in 1934 he was established as violin and viola teacher at  Istituto Musicale Venturi in Brescia as he was acknowledged to be “fit for the job”: “Undoubtedly all music schools should be pleased to count him among their teachers”, stated the board of examiners. In 1935 he was made Principal of the same Institute.

He got an appointment as violin teacher at Conservatorio Paganini in Genoa where he worked between 1940 and 1942. Even though he had qualified for teaching violin at the Music Schools in Palermo, Bolzano and Venezia, he decided to remain in Genoa after he was confirmed and established in his position at Paganini thanks to his “well deserved fame”.
Violin teacher, teacher in the class of quartet, deputy headmaster for many years at Paganini, he formed several pupils who in turn became famous both as teachers and successful performers.

From 1944 to 1958 he was first violin at the theatre Carlo Felice. In 1954, together with Maestro L. Cortese, Prof. L.M. De Bernardis and the music critic
M. Rietman, he proposed to the City Council, then run by Mayor Pertusio, to organize the prestigious Paganini Competition.
He was first a member of the commission in charge of the elaboration of the technical regulation, then on the committee of organizers, and finally as assistant art director he contributed to the success of this manifestation.
In 1987 he entered the Honorary Committee of the Competition.
He served as adjudicator for national and international violin competitions,
as violin teacher he was invited abroad and gave lessons to several foreign well known violinists

In 1974 he became a member of the commission
for the preservation of Paganini’s violin, in 1979 he was made
Commendatore dell’ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana,
in 1989 he was awarded the Grifo d’Oro.

One year after his death, on May 31st, in the Salone della Rappresentanza of Palazzo Tursi, the City of Genoa organized together with Conservatorio Paganini and pupils of the Maestro the manifestation “Tribute to Mario Ruminelli”
during which the artist and his work were honoured.