About Avie
AVIE Records celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2023 with an unwavering commitment to artist ownership and creative partnership. As a leading international independent classical label, innovation, quality and a gold-standard service are at the heart of what we offer to musicians the world over.
AVIE has been hailed as “adventurous” (The New York Times), “enterprising” (Gramophone), and “admirable” (The Sunday Times – London). According to ArkivMusic.com, AVIE “has blazed trails in classical music as an artist-driven company allowing for the ultimate in creative control … AVIE has put together an impressive catalog.”
A world-wide distribution network that embraces digital and physical formats, marketing strategies that lead to sales success and chart-topping releases, and widespread visibility in the media and the marketplace, are hallmarks of the AVIE model.
WINNING AWARDS / CHARTING SUCCESS
AVIE artists have received numerous international accolades, including multiple GRAMMY® Awards and nominations, Gramophone Awards, BBC Music Magazine and Diapason d’or de l’année awards. Dozens of albums across a broad spectrum of genres have landed on the Billboard classical, crossover, world music, and UK specialist classical charts, including several Number 1 chart debuts.
NURTURING NEW TALENT
AVIE actively signs and nurtures young, emerging talent – “credit to the AVIE label for uncovering distinctive little-known performers,” asserted AllMusic – and has played a part in putting several artists on the musical map, including Avery Fisher Career Grant, Warner Music Prize and Grammy® Award winner violinist Augustin Hadelich; Luiza Borac who won a BBC Music Magazine Award for her survey of Enescu’s Piano Works; and Vivaldi authority Adrian Chandler who has twice won a Gramophone Award in the Baroque Instrumental category.
The Avie Team
Melanne Mueller has spent virtually a lifetime involved in classical music, with experience encompassing performance, media, marketing and record production. As an oboist, she has played with the New York Philharmonic and worked with such luminaries as Erich Leinsdorf and John Corigliano. She has created noteworthy media campaigns for such artists as Harry Bicket, Julian Bream, Van Cliburn, Leontyne Price and Michael Tilson Thomas. In the recording industry she has held senior positions at BMG and Universal.
Simon Foster is one the industry’s most highly-regarded A&R executives. With over 40 years of continuous experience in the music industry, he has held senior positions at EMI and BMG, and was founding Managing Director of Virgin Classics. Notably, he signed Nigel Kennedy to EMI, and has created an artistic and award-winning legacy at Avie Records, including recordings by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Thomas Zehetmair and Trevor Pinnock. At the end of 2017, he retired from day-to-day service at AVIE, but continues in an advisory role.
Lee Daniel (LD) Woollard is a seasoned music industry executive. Drawing on a wealth of experience from key positions at Virgin Retail Europe, Warner Music International, Universal Classics & Jazz, EMI/Virgin Classics, and Erato/Warner Classics. He has worked on many legendary artist campaigns including Maxim Vengerov, Daniel Barenboim, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Simon Rattle, Nigel Kennedy, Alfie Boe, Kronos Quartet, Philip Glass, Alison Balsom, Michael Nyman, Karl Jenkins, John Wilson, Maria Callas, and more.
