Trio Aurora

The trio was founded in 2022 by Ani Ter-Martirosyan (piano), Diana Rohnfelder (bassoon), and Mari Ángeles Del Valle Casado (saxophone), who met as lecturers at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. What began as a professional encounter quickly developed into a profound artistic connection: after just a few rehearsals together, it was palpable that a very special musical harmony existed between us.

Our rare instrumentation—piano, bassoon, and saxophone—opens up a colorful sonic spectrum that shines in both original compositions and specially arranged works. What unites us is a passion for musical expressiveness, stylistic diversity, and a shared desire to breathe life into the repertoire for this unusual ensemble.

Each of us looks back on an independent, internationally distinguished career—as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and pedagogue. Yet in Trio Aurora, these paths merge into a shared sonic space where sensitivity, energy, and trust become audible. Together, we aim not only to inspire musically but also to reveal new perspectives on classical chamber music.

Diana Rohnfelder was born in Munich. She completed her junior studies (Jungstudium) at the Musikhochschule München and, after graduating from high school, studied for her Bachelor’s degree with Lyndon Watts in Bern. This was followed by Master’s studies and her Concert Exam (Konzertexamen) with Tobias Pelkner in Detmold, which she passed with distinction in 2021.

Her education was complemented by various masterclasses with Sergio Azzolini, Ole Kristian T. Dahl, Dag Jensen, and Klaus Thunemann, among others. The two contrabassoon lecturers Gernot Friedrich and Stephan Krings significantly shaped her contrabassoon playing.

For the year 2018, the young musician was awarded the music scholarship of the Märkische Kulturkonferenz (MKK). In addition to other prizes and awards, she is, among others, a prizewinner of the 6th International Richard-Wagner Nachwuchswettbewerb.

After Diana Rohnfelder gained initial orchestral experience in the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, the Schweizer Jugend-Sinfonie-Orchester, and as an academy member of the Orff-Akademie of the Münchner Rundfunkorchester, a temporary engagement as Principal Contrabassoonist took her to the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker in the 2015/16 season. Since 2016, Diana Rohnfelder has been playing in the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, initially as Second Bassoonist and since 2018 as Principal Contrabassoonist.

From 2018 to 2022, she worked as a lecturer for contrabassoon at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln; since 2021, she has been teaching in the same position at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule in Düsseldorf.

Born in Andalusia, saxophonist Mari Ángeles Del Valle is the recipient of numerous international awards. Her successes include winning the Adolphe-Sax-Wettbewerb in Paris and the SaxoVoce competition, as well as First Prize at the competition of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. Furthermore, she was awarded Best Woodwind Player at the Spanish Intercentros-Melómano competition—one of the most significant honors for her instrument.

She completed her Concert Exam (Konzertexamen) with distinction at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln under the guidance of the renowned Canadian professor Daniel Gauthier. In addition, she earned a Master’s degree in New Music (Neue Musik) and reached the semi-finals of the International Adolphe-Sax Competition in Dinant in 2019. At the age of 28, she took on a teaching position (Lehrauftrag) at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, which she has successfully held since 2021 alongside her active music career.

As a versatile musician, she regularly collaborates with renowned conductors such as John Axelrod, Hernández Silva, Alexander Rumpf, and Juan García. Her performances span significant concert halls such as the Kölner Philharmonie, Duisburger Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie, the Alte Oper Frankfurt, and the Teatro Maestranza in Seville. Particularly noteworthy is her role as soprano saxophonist of the Eternum Saxophon Quartett, through which she expresses her passion for chamber music in creative projects. She is also regularly invited by renowned chamber music ensembles such as Ensemble Modern and Ensemble Notabu.

Her musical work encompasses a broad repertoire including both contemporary and classical works. In this capacity, she has performed as a soloist under the direction of Alexander Rumpf in Cologne and Juan García in Seville. Her artistic development has been supported by numerous foundations and scholarships, enabling performances in major concert halls and invitations to international festivals such as Festival Liedberg, Eigenzeit, and Acht Brücken.

The extraordinary virtuosity, impressive tonal range, and fascinating sound of her instrument have been praised in specialist publications such as Das Opernmagazin, the Badische Zeitung, and Scherzo (Madrid).