Gunna Breuning-Storm

Gunna Breuning-Storm (1891–1966) was a Danish violinist and music teacher. From 1910 she performed as a soloist throughout Germany until the First World War broke out in 1914. Her Breuning-Bache Quartet was active in Denmark from 1919 until 1956. In 1918, she was the first and only woman since to be appointed court violinist and the first woman to play in the Royal Danish Orchestra. From 1926, she became the conductor of the amateur Euphrosyne Orchestra for the next 20 years. She also performed widely in Sweden and England.

Early life Born in Copenhagen on 25 January 1891, Gunna Breuning-Storm was the daughter of the physician Hoter Axel Breuning-Storm (1849–1923) and Gabriele Sophie Borchorst (1863–1921). She studied the violin from an early age under Johannes Schiørring (1869–1951) and later under Torben Anton Svendsen (1904–1980), completing her education in Berlin under Henri Marteau.

Career

She made her début in 1907 at the Odd Fellows Mansion in the presence of the king and queen. After moving to Berlin, she débuted there in 1910 and went on to perform as a soloist in Germany's main cities. She performed with the Berlin Philharmonic under Arthur Nikisch, Max Reger and Felix Weingartner and played at the court for Empress Augusta Viktoria.

Awards She was honoured with the Ingenio et arti award in 1935.