EarlyMusicNews.Org

"Skip Sempé, virtuoso harpsichordist and founder of Capriccio Stravagante, is at the forefront of today's musical personalities in Renaissance and Baroque music. Sempé grew up in New Orleans, studied music, musicology, organology and the history of art in the United States at the Oberlin Conservatory and completed his training in Europe with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam. His distinctive harpsichord playing, musicianship and interpretive flair were immediately recognized as the invention of an exotic, multi-dimensional and uncompromising musical personality. Sempé remained in Europe to embark on his own pioneering reconsideration of well and lesser-known repertoire ranging from 1500 – 1750. "

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Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 387

“Louis-Philippe Rivet, born in 1965, at Montreal, Canada, begins his musical studies at the age of 6 studying classical guitar and piano. In 1988, after studies in jazz improvisation and arranging (Art Roberts), electric bass (Michel Donato), and classical piano (Ronald Headland), he studies composition with Benght Hambræus and Bruce Mather at McGill University, where he receives his Bachelor degree in composition, in 1992.

In the same year, he wins second prize of the Pierre Mercure awards, in the Socan competition for young composers of Canada. In 1996-97, he studies composition and conducting with Brian Ferneyhough and Harvey Sollberger at the University of California (San Diego). The University grants him the « Gluck Scholarship Award ».

     Parallel to composition, he studies conducting at the « Musikhochschule » in Vienna (1994), at the « Fondationne Academia Musicale Chiggianna » in Siena (1997), with the « I Pomeriggi Musicali Orchestra » in Milan (1997), and with the conductor Francis Travis, in Vevey (1997-1998). Since 1999, Louis-Philippe Rivet is established in France and collaborates with Renée Geoffrion in the conception of the electro-acoustic clavichord, its repertoire and pedagogical implementation. He is also active teaching music and performing in the duo « Alliance Contre Nature ».

Added on: May 25, 2011 | Hits: 275

"Anikó Horváth was born in Győr, Hungary, and prepared for a pianist career ever since her childhood. She graduated as a pianist from the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in 1972; her professor was István Antal. Simultaneously with studying the piano, she started to play the harpsichord with János Sebestyén. She won the second Grand Prix of the Harpsichord Competition of Paris in 1973 but continued studying with Zuzana Ru�ičková. The harpsichord master course of Kenneth Gilbert given in Vleeshuis, Antwerp in 1978 exerted a great influence on her artistic development.

She has appeared as a soloist and member of chamber ensembles in several European countries: Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey. She has conducted harpsichord courses in Germany and within the Early Music Days of Sopron for several years.

Anikó Horváth is harpsichord professor at the Liszt Ferenc University of Music, Budapest. In 2001 she took her DLA doctoral degree. Beside giving concerts regularly, she publishes articles in musical journals and gives lectures for professionals. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 24, 2008 | Hits: 349

"Our aim is to

• help disseminate knowledge and foment research o­n early keyboard instruments (harpsichord, organ, clavichord, fortepiano) and their literature both in Hungary and abroad; organize concerts, courses, professional meetings
• support - by competitive grants - performing artists, educators, musicologists, instrument makers and, in particular, students of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music
• promote research and performance of Hungarian keyboard music
• organize youth concerts and lectures
• sponsor new compositions
• promote the publication or recording of musical compositions
• support research and practice of music therapy "
  

Added on: Feb 02, 2008 | Hits: 399

“János Sebestyén was born into a musical family on March 2, 1931 in Budapest, Hungary. He began his musical education at the National Conservatory, where his mother was on the piano faculty. His father was a prominent pedagogue and principal cellist of opera orchestras in Göteborg and Budapest. In 1950, while waiting for admission to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, he joined the staff of the Hungarian Radio. Upon entering the Academy of Music, he studied organ with János Hammerschlag and Ferenc Gergely, piano with István Antal and composition with Ervin Major and Ferenc Szabó. He graduated in 1955 with an organ diploma and later attended the harpsichord class of Zuzana Růžičková in Prague. Since that time he has performed regularly throughout Europe, Asia and the United States and has made more than 80 recordings for a number of international labels. In 1970 he established the first harpsichord class at the Academy of Music, where he was professor until 2009. At the Hungarian Radio he was senior music producer from 1969-94, and from 1962-2007 he wrote and hosted a regular series of broadcasts. ..”

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Added on: Jan 02, 2010 | Hits: 395

"Italian, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Claudio Di Veroli received his training from a distinguished group of European musicians: Ernst Epstein (piano and interpretation), Erwin Leuchter (harmony) and Ljerko Spiller (chamber music). Living in Europe in the early 70’s he was strongly influenced by his teachers Colin Tilney in London and Hubert Bédard in Paris. He was granted access and practised extensively on the antique keyboards in the Fenton House (London) and the Paris Conservatoire Musée Instrumental (now Musée de la Musique). ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jan 15, 2009 | Hits: 307

"Michael Borgstede lives in Tel Aviv and works as both Middle East correspondent for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung as well as a harpsichordist and organist. As a soloist and member of the ensemble Musica ad Rhenum he has toured almost all European countries, the United States, Asia, South America and the Middle East. Michael Borgstede regularly performs at venues like the Wigmore Hall in London, the Konzerthaus in Vienna and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.While still a student at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague he won the BenWeber Award and the York Early Music Competition. He has participated in morethan twenty CD-productions, among which are the Complete Chamber Music of Francois Couperin with the ensemble Musica ad Rhenum. Summer 2006 saw the release of the Complete hrpsichord music of Couperin on the Brilliant Classics label (11 CDs), which was praised by the press and received several distinctions. Apart from his extensiveconcert activities Michael Borgstede is invited regularly to hold masterclasses und give lectures on controversial aspects of Historical Performance Practice. He always strives for an interpretation full of contrast and dramawhich does justice to the rhetoric and affect of baroque music. This search haslead him to “crack some dogmas of Historically Informed Performance Practice”(Tagesanzeiger). The results are “sometimes unusual, but always inventive, lively and musicologically sound interpretations” (El Pais). He has also published a book on the ethnic diversity of Israeli society. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2008 | Hits: 526

"Andrea Chezzi, born in Colorno (PR) in 1975, graduated in organ and composition from the Conservatory A. Boito in Parma, and then studied harpsichord in Amsterdam under the guidance of Bob van Asperen. He followed courses in performance practice of early music with L. F. Tagliavini, W. van de Pol, Ch. Stembridge, G. Murray, A. Marcon, Ch. Rousset at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 06, 2008 | Hits: 386

“Born in Milan,where successfully graduated in organ, organ composition andharpsichord at the Conservatorio G.Verdi. Winner of several national contestshe began a deep activity of concertswhich led him to play all over Europe and USA for the most  prestigious concert societies.

Expecially keen in the literature of the XVII and the XVIII centuries performed on historical instruments, he already recorded several CDs as soloistand as a member of chamber music group.

He has edited the modern revision of some cantatas by Alessandro Melani and has published musicby Cima, Borgo, Falconieri and Monteclairin tablature for trumpet and continuo for Editions Bim (Bulle-Switzerland).

Since 1982 He plays in duo with Gabriele Cassone and in 1989 he founded the Ensemble "Pian & Forte".At the present time he is teaching Basso continuoby the Accademia internazionale di Musica in Milanand organist of San Francesco di Paola Church in Milan.

Antonio Frigé plays for Dynamic.“

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Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 293

"Biagio Terracciano, pianist, choir and orchestra Director, has a diploma with distinction in piano at the Academy of Music "S.Pietro a Majella" in Naples and a honours degree with a historical musicologic specialization in Italian Literature. Since 1984 he has been studying and doing research on ancient music, specializing in the practice of the renaissance and baroque polyphony both sacred and secular. In the same year he founded the vocal group "Dimensione Polifonica" which he has been instructing and directing since then. Having distinguished himself during international courses of specialization both for orchestration and choir conduction organized by the Directors D.Bartolucci (Director for life of the Cappella Sistina), R.R. Duarte, J. Jurgens, B. Zagni he has also participated to the International Courses of Urbino for the vocality and the execution of the baroque music. He has published many articles and essays on ancient music and on sacred polyphony. In 1997 he revised L. Leo's unpublished "Dixit Domus" donating the score of it to Maestro R. De Simone of the Academy of Music of Naples. In 1988 he founded the Cultural Association "Dimensione Polifonica", an organization of regional importance, of which he is the President. As an expert of liturgical music he cooperates with the Cathedral of Naples. In 1990 he played the organ during the John Paul IInd celebration of the High Mass in Piazza del Plebiscito. Since 1991 he has been the Director of the Schola Cantorum of the Cathedral of Naples, which performs during the most important liturgies, celebrated by the Cardinal Michele Giordano. He is the founder and instructing director of the choir of white voices "S. Maria della Rotonda". He is the Secretary of the Diocesan Commission of sacred music, conductor of many chamber groups and artistic director of many musical happenings. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 20, 2008 | Hits: 312

"He has based most of his piano and fortepiano activity on the results of his personal research. He gained his diploma at the Conservatorio di Musica di Foggia and his diploma with merit at the Accademia Chigiana of Siena in piano (1984) and in chamber music (1985). Having studied the main piano treatises, he has since concentrated his studies on rediscovering and re-evaluating 19th century Italian instrumental music. His repertoir includes Hummel, Clementi, Dussek, Moscheles, Cramer, Czerny, Kalkbrenner, Ries and Mueller as well as the most representative authors of the 19th century. Thanks to his researches he rediscovered and performed transcriptions of Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart’s sinfonies and concerts by Hummel, Moscheles, Ries, Czerny, Cramer and Clementi. He is curator and member, for Ut-Orpheus in Bologna-urtext, of the scientific committee for Muzio Clementi’s opera omnia, now available in the most important Libraries throughout the world. In 2002, in association with the Italian Society of Musicology (S.I.d.M.), he contributed to the organization of the conference “Muzio Clementi: compositore-(forte)pianista-editore” held in Perugia. He is regularly invited to hold conferences in Conservatories, Istitutes, musical associations and academies such as the Hungarian Academy during the International Conference “From Liszt to Ligeti “ in 2002 and the conference on Clementi organized by the Austrian and the German Historical Institutes in Rome. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 322

"Edoardo Torbianelli, born 1970 in Trieste (Italy), obtained his diploma for piano and harpsichord at the conservatory of his town. He continued his studies at the "Scuola di alto Perfezionamento Musicale dei Filarmonici di Torino" with Prof. Jean Fassina, at the Royal college of Music at Antwerpen (Belgium), and at the Catholic University of Brabant (Netherlands), where he obtained concert degrees for piano, harpsichord and chamber music.

He developed a keen interest in historical performance practice through partecipation in several specialized seminars and courses and by intensive research of historical sources, concentrating especially on the classical and romantic periods. At the same time he continued university studies in literature and languages.

Torbianelli was a prize winner at the Emmanuel Durlet International Piano Competition in 1993 and 1996 and at the international fortepiano competition in Bruges in 1995. Since then he has performed with critical acclaim in Italy, Belgium, Netherland, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenja and Denmark at many international festivals including: Festival van Vlaanderen, Festival de Wallonie, Flamish Opera, Royal Philarmonic of Flanders, Schubert Society Roskilde, Gesellschaft Freunde Alter Musik Basel, Musica Franconia and Musica Antiqua Konzerte Nurnberg, Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Festival di Musica Antica Urbino, Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna.

He has performed on the historical instruments in the collections of: Deutsches Museum Muenchen, Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nurnberg, Beethoven-Haus Museum Bonn, Museum Vleeshuis Antwerpen. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 26, 2008 | Hits: 410

"1987 Diploma in pianoforte, sotto la guida di Velia De Vita. Conservatorio “Santa Cecilia” - Roma

1992 Diploma in clavicembalo con il massimo dei voti, sotto la guida di Paola Bernardi. Conservatorio “Santa Cecilia” - Roma

Durante il corso della sua formazione musicale si è dedicato allo studio dell’organo, con particolare approfondimento della musica sacra con il mons. Domenico Bartolucci. " See site for more info. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 02, 2008 | Hits: 807

"Francesco Corti was born in Arezzo, Italy, in a musical family in 1984. As a young child, he was taught by his mother, Anna Seggi, and then by Giordano Giustarini.

He studied organ in the class of Wijnand van de Pol at the Conservatorio Morlacchi in Perugia, where he graduated with highest marks and mention in 2004.

He then studied harpsichord at the Conservatoire de Musique of Geneva with Alfonso Fedi. He is currently continuing his studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Bob van Asperen (harpsichord). He has also attended masterclasses with C. Rousset, G. Leonhardt, M. Meyerson, B. Winsemius, E. Kooiman, L. Tamminga, L. F. Tagliavini at important musical institutions such as the Zomerakademie voor Organisten of Haarlem, the Académie Musicale de Villecroze and the Accademia Chigiana di Siena (where he received a "Diploma di Merito"). From 2000 to 2004, he was organist at the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pieve in Arezzo.

He was awarded in international competitions for harpsichord, organ, and chamber music and in 2006 he obtained the first prize of harpsichord at the XV International "Johann Sebastian Bach" Competition in Leipzig. In 2007 he was awarded the second prize at the Bruges Harpsichord Competition.

As a soloist, he has appeared in numerous concerts all over Europe, in the USA, in Mexico and in New Zealand. He plays with famous early music groups suc as Ensemble les Musiciens du Louvre (M.Minkowski), Le Concert des Nations (J. Savall), Zefiro (A. Bernardini), Ensemble Elyma (G. Garrido), and Musica ad Rhenum (j. Wentz).

His first solo recording (Harpsichord suites by Lous Couperin, recorded on the original Ruckers Harpsichod conserved in Neuchâtel, Switzerland) has been published in 2007 by the label Genuin. "

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Added on: Jul 16, 2008 | Hits: 420

"Gabriele Catalucci was born in Amelia in 1958 where he studied piano with Pina Ardizzone.

Some years later he graduated in Organ and Composition under Wijnand van de Pol and in Harpsichord after studying with Annaberta Conti e Maria Teresa Garatti at the Conservatorio "F.Morlacchi" of Perugia.

He studied conducting as well and took part at courses for organ with Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini at the Accademia per organo of Pistoia and for harpsichord with Kenneth Gilbert at the “Fondazione Cini" of Venezia.

He attended the Scuola di Paleografia e Filologia Musicale in Cremona (Pavia University). At the end of his studies he started giving concerts as organ, harpsichord and fortepiano soloist and as conductor in festivals and many theatres in Italy and abroad (Argentina, Austria, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Switzerland).

He recorded several works for Bongiovanni, Eco, Frequenz and for RAI Radio3 and revised and published operas and instrumental and sacred-vocal music of XVII - XIX centuries.

He teaches Harmony and analysis and Historical Keyboards at the "G.Briccialdi" Music School in Terni and is conductor of the Corale Amerina, plays in duo with Wijnand van de Pol (two organs-two harpsichords) and Andrea Di Mario (natural trumpet) with whom founded the ensemble of natural trumpets, baroque ketteldrums and organ Les Trompettes des Plaisirs and is deputy organist at All Saints' Anglican Church in Rome. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 02, 2008 | Hits: 398

"Born in Sardinia, Paola Erdas was awarded her diploma in harpsichord at the Conservatory of Venice in 1991. From 1992 to 1996, thanks to a five-year scholarship, she studied under Kenneth Gilbert at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Since 1996 she has been a member of the ensemble L'Apothéose, recording for the Stradivarius label.

In the same year, together with recorder virtuoso Lorenzo Cavasanti, she founded the JANAS ensemble. The group, which collaborates with the theatre and historical dance specialist Deda Colonna, soon became multi-instrumental, with the sound of the harpsichord augmented by voice,winds,strings and percussion , in performances combining poetry, dance and music of the late Renaissance and Baroque periods in the Mediterranean area.

Particularly interested in the early harpsichord repertoire she combines her intense performing activity with her wide musicological interests. For Ut Orpheus Edizioni she has published the first modern edition of the "Pièces de Luth en Musique pour jouer sur le Luth et le Clavessin" by Perrine (Paris 1680), which she has also recorded, for the Stradivarius label, on the Delin harpsichord (Tournai 1768) from the collection of K.Gilbert. Always fascinated by the Spanish repertoire, she has studied this topic in depth with careful research into ancient sources and treatises. In 1997, she recorded the solo CD "Libro de Cifra Nueva" by Luys Venegas de Henestrosa on another harpsichord in K.Gilbert's collection, the Italian F. A. 1677. ...

She is presently working on a critical edition of the "Pièces de Clavessin" by N. A. Lebègue, the first volume of which has been already been published by Ut Orpheus Edizioni and recently recorded by her on the Stradivarius label.

Paola Erdas teaches thorough-bass at the Conservatory of Trieste. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 22, 2008 | Hits: 361

"Chie Hirai received her bachelor degree on modern piano in the College Division of Toho Gakuen School of Music. In order to specialize in fortepiano with Stanley Hoogland at the Royal Conservatory, The Hague (The Netherlands), she was granted scholarships from the Nuffic Organization and the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan.

She was awarded her Masters with distinction on fortepiano in 2002, as well as "Nicolai prize" that is given to the most outstanding student of the year. In addition to her fortepiano specialization Chie has also broadened her knowledge of keyboard instruments by studying the harpsichord with Menno van Delft at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

In the Mozart-year 2006, she toured with l'Orfeo Baroque Orchester in Austria and Germany to perform piano concertos by Mozart and his son Franz Xaver in Brucknerhaus in Linz, Konzerthaus in Vienna etc. ...

Chie has performed in the major early music festivals in Europe such as the Festival de Musica Antiga de Barcelona (Spain), Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht (Holland), Académies Musicales Festival in Saintes (France), The Felicja Blumental International Music Festival (Israel) and Carinthische Sommer (Austria). Many radio broadcasting and recordings were made by such as Radio France (Paris, France), ARF (Wien, Austria) etc. She was an official accompanist in International early music competition in Bruges in 2005. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 24, 2008 | Hits: 491

"After completing his modern piano degree at the Royal Conservatory at The Hague in 1983, Bart van Oort studied fortepiano with Stanley Hoogland, also at the Royal Conservatory. In 1986 he won the first prize and the special Audience prize at the Mozart Fortepiano Competition in Brugges, Belgium, and he subsequently studied with Malcolm Bilson at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), receiving a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Historical Performance Practice in 1993. He has performed at festivals in Utrecht, Florence, Berlin, Antwerp, Brugges, Melbourne, Brisbane, York, Montpellier, Moscow, and Esterhaza, in the USA and New Zealand, and has given lectures and master classes at the conservatories of Brussels, Paris, Moscow, Helsinki, Oslo, Bucharest, Sofia, Moscow, Stavanger, Perugia, Sydney, Adelaide, Wellington, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Juilliard, Bloomington, and Western Ontario. Since 1997 Van Oort has made more than forty recordings of chamber music and solo repertory, including the prize-winning 4-CD box set The Art of the Nocturne in the Nineteenth Century, the Complete Haydn Piano Trios (10 CDs) with his ensemble the Van Swieten Society, and with four other fortepianists, the Complete Haydn Piano Sonatas. In 2005 Bart van Oort completed a ten-year, 14-CD recording project, the Complete Works for Piano solo and Piano four-hands of Mozart, which was released during the Mozart Year 2006. Bart van Oort teaches fortepiano and is a lecturer in Historical Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague (The Netherlands). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 16, 2008 | Hits: 539

“ Bernard Winsemius (b. 1945) studied the organ with Anthon van der Horst and Albert de Klerk at Amsterdam Conservatory, where he also studied choral and orchestral conducting. In addition, he studied the carillon at the Nederlandse Beiaardschool (Dutch Carillon School) in Amersfoort.

His study was crowned with the Prix d'excellence for organ (1970) and carillon (1971). He was awarded the Zilveren Vriendenkrans (Friends' Silver Wreath) by the Vereniging Vrienden van het Concertgebouworkest (Society of Friends of the Concertgebouworkest) in 1971.

Bernard Winsemius teaches the organ at Rotterdam Conservatory and Utrecht Conservatory, and the carillon at the Dutch Carillon School. He is a regular teacher at the International Organ Academy Haarlem. As a guest teacher he is invited to give master classes, especially on subjects concerning renaissance and baroque music.

He is city carillonneur of Haarlem and Amsterdam.

Together with Gustav Leonhardt he was appointed organist of the Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, in 1981.

He has done numerous concerts for broadcasting companies, as well as for LP and CD.“

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Added on: Apr 25, 2010 | Hits: 252

Facebook site for Gustav Leonhardt.

“Gustav Leonhardt (born 30 May 1928, 's-Graveland) is a highly acclaimed Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. Leonhardt has been a leader in the movement to perform music on period instruments. The keyboard instruments on which he has performed and recorded include the harpsichord, pipe organ, claviorganum (a combination of a harpsichord and an organ), clavichord, and fortepiano. .. “

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Added on: Jun 05, 2010 | Hits: 674

Dutch Harpsichord Society. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 422

"JACQUES OGG is a performer on both harpsichord and fortepiano; he teaches at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague; he conducts and he makes recordings, either solo or with friends and colleagues.

He was born in Maastricht (the Netherlands) and studied harpsichord in the city of his birth with Anneke Uittenbosch. In 1970 he went to study with Gustav Leonhardt at the Amsterdam Conservatory from which he graduated in 1974.

Jacques Ogg’s current activities include soloconcerts on harpsichord or on fortepiano, concerts with flautist Wilbert Hazelzet as a duo as well as in a trio-formation either with gambaplayer Jaap ter Linden or with ‘cellist Christiaan Norde. He is a member of the Orchestra of the 18th Century and performs regularly with Concerto Palatino. He is frequently invited for masterclasses, for instance in Juiz de Fora (Brazil) and Buenos Aires, in Mateus (Portugal), Salamanca (Spain) as well as in Cracow (Poland), Prague and Budapest. He was invited as a juror in competitions such as “Bach Wettbewerb” (Leipzig) and “Prague Spring”.

Jacques Ogg is artistic director of the Lyra Baroque Orchestra in Minneapolis/Saint Paul (Minnesota, VS). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 24, 2008 | Hits: 372

"Johan Hofmann studied the harpsichord with Jacques Ogg and Siebe Henstra . His repertoire encloses works from the 16th, 17th, and 18th century as well as contemporary, although he specializes in music from the early and mid baroque period. His interpretations are grounded in thorough theoretical and organological knowledge and are at the same time renowned for their spontaneity and purity of style. He gave concerts in Austria , Denmark , France , Germany , Italy , Scotland , Spain , The Tsjech Republic, The United States and Sweden . In the Netherlands he regularly plays with ensembles and orchestras like The Northern Consort, Cappella Groningen, the Brabants Kamerkoor, Ensemble Occhio di Falcone (with Judith van Wanroij, Susanne Braumann and Bert Honig), the Combattimento Consort and cappella Frisae. Johan Hofmann also performed with distinguished players like Michael Chance, the Egidius Quartet, Emma Kirkby, Paul Leenhouts, Xenia Meijer, Robert Muuse and Marc Pantus. ...

Johan Hofmann teaches an international harpsichord class at the Prins Claus Conservatoire in Groningen. At the same institute he teaches thoroughbass and chambermusic. At the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Johan Hofmann teaches harpsichord and thoroughbass as minor subjects, and lectures the course “Harmony in Performance Practice”. He is also regularly invited by the conservatories in Tilburg, Zwolle, Arnhem and Enschede and gives courses in the Netherlands as well as abroad. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 1002

"Kathryn Cok pursues a varied career as a harpsichordist, fortepianist and academic on both sides of the Atlantic. She is well sought after both as a soloist as well as a continuo player. Born in the city of New York, USA, Kathryn now lives in The Hague, Holland where she completed a Masters degree at the Royal Conservatory as a student of Ton Koopman and Tini Mathot on the harpsichord, and Bart van Oort on the fortepiano. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 336

"Marco Vitale was born in Palermo (Italy) in 1980. He studied piano, organ, harpsichord and composition at Palermo’s “V. Bellini” Conservatory. He took the piano diploma in 2001 and the organ diploma in 2002 with full marks and “Cum Laude”. He took part in many international master-classes where he developed his skills and taste for baroque music.

His concert life began at age of 15, with performances as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed as a continuo player with well-known orchestras and conductors. In 2002 he moved to The Netherlands where he studied at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Marco Vitale took degrees in organ with Jos van der Kooy, and Early Music (harpsichord) with Ton Koopman and Tini Mathot.

Marco Vitale is the co-founder and musical director of “Contrasto Armonico”, a baroque orchestra specialized in the performance of music in italian stytle and baroque operas; in 2008 started a cooperation with the Dutch label Brilliant Classics, for whom he recorded already the serenata “Aci, Galatea e Polifemo” by Handel. For he will record, in October 2008, the Handel’s oratorio “La Resurrezione”, which will be released in the first half of the Handel year 2009. In addition to performing, he also works as teacher, giving master-classes throughout Europe and teaching Harpsichord at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague (Netherlands). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 02, 2008 | Hits: 327