EarlyMusicNews.Org

“Patrick Ayrton has always had a passion for keyboard instruments, first the piano, then the organ and the harpsichord. He studied with François Demierre in Switzerland, with Alfred Mitterhofer at the Vienna Academy, in Austria, where he obtained his virtuosity diploma "cum laude", before specialising with Ton Koopman at The Hague conservatory. Patrick Ayrton was a prizewinner at the organ competitions in Innsbruck (1983) and in Bruges (1985).

He has since been invited by leading ensembles, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orlando Vocal Ensemble of Fribourg (Switzerland), the London Royal Choral Society and Brandenburg Consort, as well as the Amsterdam Combattimento Consort. In France, he is a regular guest with the Orchestre d'Auvergne, whose musical director, Arie van Beek, has encouraged him to develop his conducting skills and entrusted him with the direction of several programmes.

Though born in London, Patrick Ayrton has now settled in Burgundy, near Chalon-sur-Saône, with his family. In recent years, he has become increasingly involved in French musical life. Among other engagements, he is the artistic director of the festival "Bach en Combrailles" in Auvergne.

Patrick is also an active pedagogue, teaching harpsichord, continuo and chamber music at The Hague Conservatory, in the Netherlands. He gives masterclasses in Russia (the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the Gnessin School) and in Austria (the Summer Academy of the Salzburg Mozarteum). His recordings are published by the Dutch label Globe.

In 2004 he founded Ars Burgundiae, with a view to rehabilitating the works of Joseph Touchemoulin.“

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Category: Academies/Academia/Early Music Study/Institutions

Added on: Jul 06, 2009 | Hits: 296