"The Vaughan have become the foremost string quartet in Edmonton."
(Edmonton Journal)
"Characterized by youthful energy, seasoned experience, invigorating playing and soulful interpretations, the Vaughan String Quartet is quickly earning a glowing reputation."
(St. Albert Gazette)
"The Vaughan String Quartet's vibrant performances have been thrilling audiences for more than two years and have already garnered a faithful following"
(FineLifestyles)
(Edmonton Journal)
"Characterized by youthful energy, seasoned experience, invigorating playing and soulful interpretations, the Vaughan String Quartet is quickly earning a glowing reputation."
(St. Albert Gazette)
"The Vaughan String Quartet's vibrant performances have been thrilling audiences for more than two years and have already garnered a faithful following"
(FineLifestyles)

Lauded by the press for its “youthful energy, seasoned experience, invigorating playing and soulful interpretations”, Edmonton-based Vaughan String Quartet is one of the most active young chamber music groups in Western Canada. Past engagements include performances for the Banff Centre for Performing Arts, Edmonton Recital Society, Edmonton Opera, New Music Edmonton, the Western Canadian Music Awards, and the St. Albert Chamber Music Recital Series. The Vaughan has collaborated with a number of artists including classical accordionist Antonio Peruch, pianists Sarah Ho and Janet Scott-Hoyt, violinist Laura Andriani, and cellist Rafael Hoekman. The group has received reviews from the Edmonton Journal and the St. Albert Gazette, and has appeared on live radio (CBC Radio Canada) and television (City TV, L’Alberta en Bref, and France 3 Franche-Comté).
The quartet has been coached by members of prominent North American string quartets such as the Cecilia, the St. Lawrence, the Lafayette, the Dover, and the Penderecki, as well as by world-renowned musicians including Gerald Stanick, Laura Andriani, Jonathan Crow, Robert Bardston, and Petr Holman.
In 2014 the Vaughan String Quartet was Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre. A recipient of the Luminato Festival String Quartet Fellowship in Toronto, the group was part of Murray Schafer’s “Apocalypsis”, recorded live by CBC in 2015 and released on CD in 2016 by Analekta. In 2017 the group participated in the St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Seminar at Stanford University.
Since 2013 the Vaughan String Quartet has organized a concert series in Edmonton, inviting musicians from across Canada and abroad, and has received a number of grants and awards from the Edmonton Arts Council, including the Cultural Diversity Award in 2017.
The quartet’s debut on the international stage took place in New York City in the summer of 2015 under the sponsorship of the PAMAR (Pan American Musical Art Research). In the summer of 2016 the ensemble held its European debut at the FIMU festival in Belfort, France and continued on to perform in various cities in Northern Italy. This intense performance schedule has brought the Vaughan String Quartet to some of the most important concert halls in North America such as the Winspear Centre in Edmonton (AB), the Festival Hall in Calgary (AB), the Rolston Hall at the Banff Centre (AB), Philip T. Young Hall in Victoria (BC), the Sony Centre in Toronto (ON), Munson Recital Hall at Azusa Pacific University (CA), Campbell Hall in Stanford (CA), and the Symphony Space in New York (NY).
The Vaughan String Quartet is also very engaged in the community: they regularly performs in hospitals, senior centres, schools and have been involved in concerts for people in spectrum of the autism.
The quartet has been coached by members of prominent North American string quartets such as the Cecilia, the St. Lawrence, the Lafayette, the Dover, and the Penderecki, as well as by world-renowned musicians including Gerald Stanick, Laura Andriani, Jonathan Crow, Robert Bardston, and Petr Holman.
In 2014 the Vaughan String Quartet was Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre. A recipient of the Luminato Festival String Quartet Fellowship in Toronto, the group was part of Murray Schafer’s “Apocalypsis”, recorded live by CBC in 2015 and released on CD in 2016 by Analekta. In 2017 the group participated in the St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Seminar at Stanford University.
Since 2013 the Vaughan String Quartet has organized a concert series in Edmonton, inviting musicians from across Canada and abroad, and has received a number of grants and awards from the Edmonton Arts Council, including the Cultural Diversity Award in 2017.
The quartet’s debut on the international stage took place in New York City in the summer of 2015 under the sponsorship of the PAMAR (Pan American Musical Art Research). In the summer of 2016 the ensemble held its European debut at the FIMU festival in Belfort, France and continued on to perform in various cities in Northern Italy. This intense performance schedule has brought the Vaughan String Quartet to some of the most important concert halls in North America such as the Winspear Centre in Edmonton (AB), the Festival Hall in Calgary (AB), the Rolston Hall at the Banff Centre (AB), Philip T. Young Hall in Victoria (BC), the Sony Centre in Toronto (ON), Munson Recital Hall at Azusa Pacific University (CA), Campbell Hall in Stanford (CA), and the Symphony Space in New York (NY).
The Vaughan String Quartet is also very engaged in the community: they regularly performs in hospitals, senior centres, schools and have been involved in concerts for people in spectrum of the autism.

Vladimir Rufino - Violin I
Brazilian violinist Vladimir Rufino holds a Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta (Canada), a Master of Music degree and Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University (USA), and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (Brazil). He studied with Mr. Yerko Pinto Tabilo and Mr. Charles Stegeman and was a recipient of numerous scholarships and participated in many music festivals and symposia in Brazil, Canada and United States including the Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies at The Juilliard School.
Rufino performance schedule has brought his love for music to stages in Brazil, Argentina, United States, Canada, France, Germany and Italy. Over the years, he has performed in many prestigious concert halls such as the Walt Disney Hall, Symphony Space, Rolston Recital Hall, and Sony Centre. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Orquestra Sinfônica da Paraíba (Brazil), and as concertmaster for the Orquestra Sinfônica Jovem da Paraíba (Brazil), assistant concertmaster and soloist for the Orquestra de Câmara da Cidade de João Pessoa (Brazil), concertmaster for the Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra (USA), and concertmaster for the University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra (Canada). His chamber music experience includes many international performances, notably as part of the Quartet Quarta Dimensão, the Camerata Brasílica (where he served as concertmaster), and Villa-Lobos String Quartet.
Besides performing the standard classical repertoire, Rufino also focus on the performance of works by Brazilian composers. Among various concerts, recitals and recordings that included Brazilian music, he notably took part on the recording of the Quartet Quarta Dimensão CD Músicos e Poetas, the Camerata Brasílica CD Brasilêra, his 2017 doctoral thesis Styles and Extended Techniques in 6 Works for Violin from Paraíba since 1952 – with works for violin by five Brazilian composers from the Brazilian state of Paraíba – and the 2018 Vaughan String Quartet debut CD with works by the Italians Simone Boi and D. P. Runcini, and the Brazilians A. Carlos Gomes and H. Villa-Lobos.
With the Vaughan String Quartet he was an Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre with the Vaughan String Quartet in two separate occasions and in 2017 received the Cultural Diversity Award by the City of Edmonton. Since its formation in 2013 the Vaughan String Quartet has been considered by the Edmonton Journal as “the foremost string quartet in Edmonton”.
Presently he regularly performs with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and is the first violin of the Vaughan String Quartet. Besides his performance schedule, Dr. Rufino adjudicates for festivals and competitions in Alberta and teaches violin at MacEwan University Conservatory of Music.
Brazilian violinist Vladimir Rufino holds a Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta (Canada), a Master of Music degree and Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University (USA), and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (Brazil). He studied with Mr. Yerko Pinto Tabilo and Mr. Charles Stegeman and was a recipient of numerous scholarships and participated in many music festivals and symposia in Brazil, Canada and United States including the Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies at The Juilliard School.
Rufino performance schedule has brought his love for music to stages in Brazil, Argentina, United States, Canada, France, Germany and Italy. Over the years, he has performed in many prestigious concert halls such as the Walt Disney Hall, Symphony Space, Rolston Recital Hall, and Sony Centre. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Orquestra Sinfônica da Paraíba (Brazil), and as concertmaster for the Orquestra Sinfônica Jovem da Paraíba (Brazil), assistant concertmaster and soloist for the Orquestra de Câmara da Cidade de João Pessoa (Brazil), concertmaster for the Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra (USA), and concertmaster for the University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra (Canada). His chamber music experience includes many international performances, notably as part of the Quartet Quarta Dimensão, the Camerata Brasílica (where he served as concertmaster), and Villa-Lobos String Quartet.
Besides performing the standard classical repertoire, Rufino also focus on the performance of works by Brazilian composers. Among various concerts, recitals and recordings that included Brazilian music, he notably took part on the recording of the Quartet Quarta Dimensão CD Músicos e Poetas, the Camerata Brasílica CD Brasilêra, his 2017 doctoral thesis Styles and Extended Techniques in 6 Works for Violin from Paraíba since 1952 – with works for violin by five Brazilian composers from the Brazilian state of Paraíba – and the 2018 Vaughan String Quartet debut CD with works by the Italians Simone Boi and D. P. Runcini, and the Brazilians A. Carlos Gomes and H. Villa-Lobos.
With the Vaughan String Quartet he was an Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre with the Vaughan String Quartet in two separate occasions and in 2017 received the Cultural Diversity Award by the City of Edmonton. Since its formation in 2013 the Vaughan String Quartet has been considered by the Edmonton Journal as “the foremost string quartet in Edmonton”.
Presently he regularly performs with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and is the first violin of the Vaughan String Quartet. Besides his performance schedule, Dr. Rufino adjudicates for festivals and competitions in Alberta and teaches violin at MacEwan University Conservatory of Music.

Mattia Berrini - Violin II
Originally from Milan - Italy, Mattia Berrini has been a student of Fulvio Luciani, first violin of the Quartetto Borciani, and in 2010 he received his Diploma at Pavia’s Conservatory of Music. During his studies, Mattia received orchestral courses at Accademia Internazionale della Musica of Milan with Massimo Mazza and took part as well in masterclasses with important violinists such as Eyal Kless, Paulo Bosisio and Yehonatan Berick.
Besides his musical education, Mattia has a master in biology and he currently merges his interest for these two subjects as member of the Research Laboratory on Music Gestures (LRGM) at Université de Montréal, a group of musicians, engineers and kinesiologists studying the bio-mechanic aspects and health issues of string playing. He has also enjoyed to share his passion for these subjects as guest lecturer in universities such as Concordia in Edmonton and McGill in Montréal. A passionate violin teacher, Mattia works as youth orchestra tutor and chamber music coach and he is affiliated professor to the École Vincent-D'Indy of Montréal.
Since 2010 Mattia has freelanced for several orchestras in Europe, Canada and South America including the United Europe Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra Barocca di Cremona, and has been invited to join the Philharmonic Ensemble Orchestra of Japan for a concert in Milano. He has organized and performed chamber music concerts, mostly with his wife Silvia Buttiglione, and appeared in different venues on the two sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
In 2012, before moving to Canada, he participated in the Festival de Inverno of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, having been selected to join the strings of the Petrobras Orchestra for the final concert. In the same year he also participated in the Festival MiTo in Milan as member of Milano Classica Orchestra.
At supper time, Mattia is always glad to be the "chef" of the quartet, baking pizzas, breads and pies for the whole group.
Originally from Milan - Italy, Mattia Berrini has been a student of Fulvio Luciani, first violin of the Quartetto Borciani, and in 2010 he received his Diploma at Pavia’s Conservatory of Music. During his studies, Mattia received orchestral courses at Accademia Internazionale della Musica of Milan with Massimo Mazza and took part as well in masterclasses with important violinists such as Eyal Kless, Paulo Bosisio and Yehonatan Berick.
Besides his musical education, Mattia has a master in biology and he currently merges his interest for these two subjects as member of the Research Laboratory on Music Gestures (LRGM) at Université de Montréal, a group of musicians, engineers and kinesiologists studying the bio-mechanic aspects and health issues of string playing. He has also enjoyed to share his passion for these subjects as guest lecturer in universities such as Concordia in Edmonton and McGill in Montréal. A passionate violin teacher, Mattia works as youth orchestra tutor and chamber music coach and he is affiliated professor to the École Vincent-D'Indy of Montréal.
Since 2010 Mattia has freelanced for several orchestras in Europe, Canada and South America including the United Europe Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra Barocca di Cremona, and has been invited to join the Philharmonic Ensemble Orchestra of Japan for a concert in Milano. He has organized and performed chamber music concerts, mostly with his wife Silvia Buttiglione, and appeared in different venues on the two sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
In 2012, before moving to Canada, he participated in the Festival de Inverno of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, having been selected to join the strings of the Petrobras Orchestra for the final concert. In the same year he also participated in the Festival MiTo in Milan as member of Milano Classica Orchestra.
At supper time, Mattia is always glad to be the "chef" of the quartet, baking pizzas, breads and pies for the whole group.

Fabiola Amorim - Viola
Born in the city of João Pessoa - Brazil, Fabiola Amorim received her Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta (Canada), Master of Music degree from Azusa Pacific University (USA), Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University (USA), and Bachelor of Music degree from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB (Brazil). She received many scholarships and awards throughout her studies, including the Beryl Barns Memorial Graduate Award and Harriet Snowball Winspear Graduate Scholarship. She was part of the studios of Mr. Yerko Tabilo, Mr. Charles Stegeman, and Mr. Robert Becker. She participated in many music festivals and symposia in Brazil and United States such as the Starling-Delay Symposium at The Juilliard School. In 2014 Amorim was an Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre with the Vaughan String Quartet.
She was a member of the Orquestra Sinfônica da Paraíba (Brazil), and served as principal viola for the Orquestra de Câmara da Cidade de João Pessoa (Brazil), Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra (USA), and University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra (Canada), where she also appeared as a soloist in 2014 and 2015. As a chamber musician and orchestra member, she has appeared in many stages, such as Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles) and Symphony Space (New York), and venues in different continents. She was a member of the Villa-Lobos String Quartet and the Camerata Brasílica. With the Camerata Brasílica she was a prize winner at the Concurso Nacional de Música de Câmara (Londrina - 2006).
Dr. Amorim is currently violist of the Vaughan String Quartet and holds a position of viola instructor at the MacEwan University Conservatory of Music.
Born in the city of João Pessoa - Brazil, Fabiola Amorim received her Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta (Canada), Master of Music degree from Azusa Pacific University (USA), Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University (USA), and Bachelor of Music degree from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB (Brazil). She received many scholarships and awards throughout her studies, including the Beryl Barns Memorial Graduate Award and Harriet Snowball Winspear Graduate Scholarship. She was part of the studios of Mr. Yerko Tabilo, Mr. Charles Stegeman, and Mr. Robert Becker. She participated in many music festivals and symposia in Brazil and United States such as the Starling-Delay Symposium at The Juilliard School. In 2014 Amorim was an Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre with the Vaughan String Quartet.
She was a member of the Orquestra Sinfônica da Paraíba (Brazil), and served as principal viola for the Orquestra de Câmara da Cidade de João Pessoa (Brazil), Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra (USA), and University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra (Canada), where she also appeared as a soloist in 2014 and 2015. As a chamber musician and orchestra member, she has appeared in many stages, such as Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles) and Symphony Space (New York), and venues in different continents. She was a member of the Villa-Lobos String Quartet and the Camerata Brasílica. With the Camerata Brasílica she was a prize winner at the Concurso Nacional de Música de Câmara (Londrina - 2006).
Dr. Amorim is currently violist of the Vaughan String Quartet and holds a position of viola instructor at the MacEwan University Conservatory of Music.

Silvia Buttiglione - Cello
Silvia Buttiglione pursued her cello studies with Maestro Nevio Zanardi at the Conservatorio di Musica N. Paganini of Genoa where she got her Diploma in 2000 with honors.
She played in 2000 as soloist the Haydn Sinfonia Concertante on the occasion of the visit of the renowned Italian conductor Carlo Maria Giulini. Buttiglione then, studied at the Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale of Saluzzo and at the Scuola di Musica of Fiesole (Firenze) and joined there the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana. She has a deep interest in the Italian Opera repertoire and has participated in several master classes on Italian Opera at Spazio Musica Association in Orvieto. Buttiglione played as principal cello with many orchestras in many famous concert halls in Europe including Berlin (Philhamonia), Budapest, Munich, Leipzig (Tonhalle), Zurich, and Italy. In 2004, she played around Europe in order to promote Genoa as the European Capital of Culture. Since 2010, Buttiglione has played chamber music, principally with her husband Mattia Berrini.
In 2012 she participated with him in the Festival de Inverno of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, having master class with Brazilian cellist Alceu Reis. Also in 2012 she participated on the Festival MiTo in Milan. Silvia Buttiglione is a passionate pedagogue and has been teaching cello for over a decade. Her students have received awards in several festivals in Canada. She is a certified teacher of the Royal Conservatory of Music since 2014 and affiliated professor to the École Vincent-D'Indy of Montréal. She also has a degree in Law and has worked as a lawyer in Genoa and Milan for many years before she moved to Canada.
She is proud mother of two sweet children who love to sing along during quartet rehearsals.
Silvia Buttiglione pursued her cello studies with Maestro Nevio Zanardi at the Conservatorio di Musica N. Paganini of Genoa where she got her Diploma in 2000 with honors.
She played in 2000 as soloist the Haydn Sinfonia Concertante on the occasion of the visit of the renowned Italian conductor Carlo Maria Giulini. Buttiglione then, studied at the Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale of Saluzzo and at the Scuola di Musica of Fiesole (Firenze) and joined there the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana. She has a deep interest in the Italian Opera repertoire and has participated in several master classes on Italian Opera at Spazio Musica Association in Orvieto. Buttiglione played as principal cello with many orchestras in many famous concert halls in Europe including Berlin (Philhamonia), Budapest, Munich, Leipzig (Tonhalle), Zurich, and Italy. In 2004, she played around Europe in order to promote Genoa as the European Capital of Culture. Since 2010, Buttiglione has played chamber music, principally with her husband Mattia Berrini.
In 2012 she participated with him in the Festival de Inverno of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, having master class with Brazilian cellist Alceu Reis. Also in 2012 she participated on the Festival MiTo in Milan. Silvia Buttiglione is a passionate pedagogue and has been teaching cello for over a decade. Her students have received awards in several festivals in Canada. She is a certified teacher of the Royal Conservatory of Music since 2014 and affiliated professor to the École Vincent-D'Indy of Montréal. She also has a degree in Law and has worked as a lawyer in Genoa and Milan for many years before she moved to Canada.
She is proud mother of two sweet children who love to sing along during quartet rehearsals.