Ellie Fregni is an accomplished freelance violist, viola pomposa player and string teacher in the Twin Cities metro area. Although her background is in classical music, her love for all types of music has drawn her to studying and performing a wide variety of genres including, hip-hop, punk, R&B, rock, jazz, Bluegrass, Celtic and blues. Her playing is an eclectic patchwork of performance styles which she synthesizes into the interpretation of modern classical music.
As a member of a diverse range of ensembles Ellie Fregni has played with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Verona String Quartet, River Rock String Ensemble She has played in bands including Big Spud Daddy and the Guiness Aires (Modern Irish), Half Starved (Punk) and Universal Intelligence (Electronic, Alternative) She is currently performing with Z Puppets Rosenschnoz in Monkey Mind Pirates- a puppet rock musical, and Gnip Gnopera- a ping pong ball opera. She is also a member of the Stringing Bridges Quartet, a string quartet specializing in rock and modern music. As a strong advocate for modern classical music she has recently premiered the Suite in A Minor for Viola Pomposa by Justin E.A. Busch at the American Composers Forum Tuesday Salon and has premiered 3 new works for viola over the year.
Because of her varied background she has performed for diverse audiences in a wide range of venues. She has played on street corners in Rome and El stations in Chicago, concert halls in Europe, Gospel Churches in Milwaukee, bars in Minneapolis and fiddle contests in rural Minnesota. She’s played for almost every possible demographic, from homeless people to millionaires, from little old ladies to screaming teenagers. She’s recorded string lines on commercially produced folk, rock and kids music CDs. Her playing has been described as: “…a delightful and unique dimension”, “added a touch of class and sophistication” “lulling and mesmerizing”
Ellie Fregni is a founding member of the Hopewell Music Cooperative, a music school and collaborative performance cooperative with a mission of access for all. Hopewell is committed to community outreach, promoting musicians -the musical assests of the North Side, developing new music and new musicians. Her past teaching endeavors include teaching piano, strings, orchestra and band in public, private and charter schools for over 10 years. She is the former director of the Minnesota Homeschool Chamber Orchestra where she taught private and group lessons, arranged music and conducted string and symphony orchestras.
When not making music, Ellie Fregni lives with her husband saxophonist Tamir Nolley and stepson Taylor. She works for Hollywood Pyrotechnic setting off firework and other pyrotechnic displays. She also does part time auto repair and occasionally works on crews for her dad’s HVAC and contracting business.