Richard Tognetti Biography: Age, Real Name, Career, Education, Parents, Height, Siblings, Wife, Children, Nationality, Ethnicity

Richard Leo Tognetti was born on August 4, 1965, in Canberra, Australia. He is one of Australia’s top musicians, known all over the world as a violinist, composer, arranger, conductor, and music director. Richard Tognetti leads the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) and also serves as the artistic director of Festival Maribor in Slovenia.

Richard Tognetti started playing the violin when he was just four years old. He grew up in Wollongong and studied violin under Harold Brissenden and the famous Scottish violist William Primrose, along with his wife Hiroko, who taught the Suzuki method. At age 11, Richard Tognetti was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium High School and later studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Alice Waten, a student of great Russian violinists.

During his studies, Richard Tognetti led and performed as a soloist with the Conservatorium’s chamber orchestra, conducted by John Painter. In 1980, he won the National Youth Concerto Competition in Brisbane. In 1987, he moved to Switzerland to study further with Igor Ozim at the Bern Conservatory. There, he performed with top orchestras like Camerata Bern and the Bern Symphony Orchestra. Richard Tognetti graduated in 1989 with the top award—the Eduard Tschumi Musikpreis.

Richard Tognetti became the artistic director and leader of the ACO, where he is known for performing, arranging, and composing music. He has made many recordings and has won or been nominated for numerous music awards, including ARIA, APRA, AIR, and Helpmann Awards.

In his personal life, Richard Tognetti was first married to winemaker Susie Roberts, and they had a son named Leonardo in 2002. They divorced in 2005. He later married violinist Satu Vänskä, who is the assistant leader of the ACO. He also has a brother, Simon, who teaches art in Wollongong.

Richard Tognetti has received many honors throughout his career. In 1997, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Wollongong. In 1999, he was named a National Living Treasure. In 2010, Richard Tognetti was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contributions to music, music education, and charity work.

Over the years, Richard Tognetti has become one of Australia’s most respected and admired classical musicians.

Parents

There is little public information about Richard Tognetti parents. However, he grew up in a musical and supportive environment that helped him become a violinist from a very young age.

Siblings

Richard Tognetti has a brother named Simon Tognetti. Simon works as an Arts teacher in Wollongong, Australia. There is no public mention of any other siblings.

Height

Richard Tognetti exact height is not publicly listed. However, he appears to have an average height for an adult male.

Wife

Richard Tognetti was first married to Susie Roberts, a winemaker. They had a son together but later divorced in 2005. He later married Satu Vänskä, a Finnish-born violinist who also works with the Australian Chamber Orchestra as assistant leader.

Children

Richard Tognetti has one son named Leonardo. He was born in 2002 during Richard’s first marriage to Susie Roberts.

Nationality

Richard Tognetti is Australian. He was born in Canberra, the capital city of Australia.

Ethnicity

Richard Tognetti is of European descent, though his specific ethnic background has not been publicly detailed.

Awards and Achievements

• Richard Tognetti was named a National Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia in 1999.
• Richard Tognetti received honorary doctorates from the University of Wollongong (1997), University of Western Australia (2003), and University of Sydney (2005).
• In 2010, Richard Tognetti was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to music.
• Richard Tognetti has won several ARIA Awards for Best Classical Album.
• Richard Tognetti won the Eduard Tschumi Musikpreis in Switzerland for being the best graduate performer in 1989.
• Richard Tognetti received the Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award in 2005.
• Richard Tognetti has also won Mo Awards, APRA Awards, AIR Awards, and been nominated for Helpmann Awards for his musical work.

These achievements show Richard Tognetti talent, leadership, and dedication to music in Australia and around the world.

FAQs 

1. What is Richard Tognetti real name?

- Richard Tognetti full name is Richard Leo Tognetti.

2. How old is Richard Tognetti?

- Richard Tognetti was born on August 4, 1965, so he is 59 years old (as of 2025).

3. What is Richard Tognetti known for?

- Richard Tognetti is a famous Australian violinist, conductor, composer, and the artistic director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO).

4. Where did Richard Tognetti study music?

- Richard Tognetti studied at the Sydney Conservatorium High School and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Later, he did post-graduate studies at the Bern Conservatory in Switzerland.

5. Who are Richard Tognetti parents?

- There is little public information about Richard Tognetti parents.

6. How tall is Richard Tognetti?

- Richard Tognetti exact height is not listed, but he appears to be around 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall.

7. Does Richard Tognetti have any siblings?

- Yes, Richard Tognetti has a brother named Simon Tognetti, who is an Arts teacher in Wollongong.

8. Who is Richard Tognetti wife?

- Richard Tognetti is married to Satu Vänskä, a violinist and assistant leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He was previously married to Susie Roberts.

9. Does Richard Tognetti have children?

- Yes, Richard Tognetti has one son named Leonardo, born in 2002.

10. What is Richard Tognetti nationality and ethnicity?

- Richard Tognetti is Australian by nationality and of European descent, though his exact ethnic background is not publicly known.