At the turn of the millennium in 2000 new developments were welcomed, among them the official inauguration of the Concert Management Department of TIHMS and concerts by Laureates in both the Main Hall and the Recital Hall of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. On September 2 and 3, 2000 violinists Reiko Otani and Alexandru Tomescu, cellist Gavriel Lipkind and pianists Inon Barnatan, Peter Józsa and Stephanos Thomopoulos created an inspiring festival by performing in recital and as soloists with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra (NCO) conducted by Philippe Entremont. On this page their biographies (updated to 2000).
Gavriel Lipkind, cello
Israeli cellist Gavriel Lipkind (1977) won the Most Promising Cellist prize at the 5th Rostropovich International Cello Competition in Paris in 1994 and the top prize (first prize wasn't awarded) at the 2nd Leonard Rose International Cello Competition in Washington DC in 1997. Gavriel studied with Uzi Wiesel at the Samuel Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv. As a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions since 1996, he has taken part in the master classes of Dmitri Ferschtman and Wolfgang Boettcher and, additionally, with Ralph Kirshbaum, Aldo Parisot and Franz Helmerson. Currently residing in Frankfurt, he pursues further training with Antonio Meneses, Laurence Lesser and Bernard Greenhouse. Gavriel is active as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed with several symphony orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, the Münchner Sinfoniker, and the Baltimore and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras. He has also played ensembles with Pinchas Zukerman and Ralph Kirshbaum, and his recitals and concerts have been broadcast regularly by Israeli Radio.
De Israëlische cellist Gavriel Lipkind (1977) won de prijs voor de meest veelbelovende cellist tijdens het Internationale Rostropovitsj Concours in Parijs in 1994 en de tweede prijs (eerste niet uitgereikt) op de Leonard Rose International Cello Competition in Washington DC in 1997. Gavriel studeerde bij Uzi Wiesel aan de Samuel Rubin Muziek Academie in Tel-Aviv. In het kader van The International Holland Music Sessions volgde hij sinds 1996 masterclasses bij Dmitri Ferschtman en Wolfgang Boettcher, en verder bij onder anderen Ralph Kirshbaum, Aldo Parisot en Franz Helmerson. Momenteel woont hij in Frankfurt en studeert hij bij Antonio Meneses, Laurence Lesser en Bernard Greenhouse. Gavriel Lipkind is actief in de kamermuziek en als solist. Hij trad op met diverse symfonie-orkesten, waaronder het Israëlisch Philharmonisch Orkest onder leiding van Zubin Mehta, de Münchner Sinfoniker, het Baltimore en New Jersey Symphony Orchestras. Ook speelde hij in ensembles met Pinchas Zukerman en Ralph Kirshbaum. Zijn recitals en concerten zijn regelmatig uitgezonden door de Israëlische radio.
Peter Józsa, piano
At the age of ten, Hungarian pianist Peter Józsa (1975) was enrolled in a special course for talented pupils at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, where he studied with Ferenc Rados and György Nádor. Since 1995 he has attended the Folkwang University of Music in Essen, Germany, studying first with Catherine Vickers and, since 1997, with Boris Bloch. In addition, he has participated in master classes with András Schiff, Hans Leygraf and Oleg Maisenberg. As a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions Summer Academy 2000, he studied with John O'Conor, Jan Marisse Huizing, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Piotr Paleczny. Among Peter's competition prizes are second prize at the 1996 International Chamber Music Competition in Caltanissetta, Sicily, and a special jury prize at the 1990 International Piano Competition in Ettlingen, Germany. In 1998 Peter was given a scholarship to the Klavierfestival Ruhr, and he was invited to open the same festival in June of this year with a performance of one of the piano concertos of Chopin together with Bella Davidovich. He has presented several concerts and radio broadcasts as part of the Budapest Spring Festivals and made his first CD in 1994. Important concert appearances outside his native land have taken him to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria.
De Hongaarse pianist Peter Józsa (1975) studeerde bij Ferenc Rados en György Nador in het speciale programma voor talentvolle studenten van de Franz Liszt Academie in Budapest. Vanaf 1995 studeerde hij aan de Folkwang Musikhochschule in Essen bij Catherine Vickers en, sinds 1997, bij Boris Bloch. Ook volgde hij masterclasses bij András Schiff, Hans Leygraf en Oleg Maisenberg. Als deelnemer aan The International Holland Music Sessions Summer Academy 2000 studeerde hij bij John O'Conor, Jan Marisse Huizing, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling en Piotr Paleczny. Jósza won verschillende prijzen, onder andere de tweede prijs op het Internationale Kamermuziek-concours in Caltanissetta (Sicilië, 1996) en een speciale prijs op het Internationale Pianoconcours in Ettlingen (1990). In 1998 kreeg hij een beurs voor het Klavierfestival Ruhr en was dit jaar uitgenodigd om hetzelfde festival te openen met één van de pianoconcerten van Chopin samen met Bella Davidovitz. Peter Józsa gaf concerten en maakte diverse radio-opnamen voor de Budapest Spring Festivals en in Duitsland, Zwitserland, Spanje, Portugal en Bulgarije. Zijn eerste CD verscheen in 1994.
Alexandru Tomescu, violin
Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu (1976) is the son of a violinist mother and a pianist father. He has studied in Berlin and Salzburg with Ruggiero Ricci, in Dresden with Heinz Rudolf, in Interlochen (USA) with Trevor Williams, and in Dallas, Texas, with Eduard Schmieder. He currently studies at the Music Academy of Bucharest and has taken lessons regularly with Stefan Gheorghiu since 1989. Alexandru won first prize in the International Georges Enescu Concours in Bucharest in 1999, second Grand Prix Yehudi Menuhin and the prize for the best recital at the Paris Long-Thibaud Concours. He has also won prizes in the international competitions of Lublin (Wieniawski), Genoa (Paganini), Sion (Tibor Varga) and Pamplona (Sarasate). He has been soloist with such orchestras as the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bucharest and several orchestras in Europe, America and Asia. Alexandru recently made a CD recording with the symphony orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory, and his recitals are broadcast on a number of television channels. A participant in The International Holland Music Sessions since 1997, he has taken part in master classes with Herman Krebbers, Eduard Schmieder, Igor Oistrakh and Igor Ozim.
De Roemeense violist Alexandru Tomescu (1976) is de zoon van een pianist en een violiste. Hij studeerde in Berlijn en Salzburg bij Ruggiero Ricci, in Dresden bij Heinz Rudolf, in Interlochen (Verenigde Staten) bij Trevor Williams, en in Dallas, bij Eduard Schmieder. Momenteel studeert hij aan de Muziekacademie van Boekarest. Ook volgt hij sinds 1989 regelmatig lessen bij Stefan Gheorghiu. In 1999 won Alexandru de eerste prijs op het Internationale Georges Enescu Concours in Boekarest, de tweede Grand Prix Yehudi Menuhin en de prijs voor het beste recital tijdens het Parijse Long-Thibaud Concours. Ook won hij prijzen op de internationale concoursen van Lublin (Wieniawski), Genua (Paganini), Sion (Tibor Varga) en Pamplona (Sarasate). Hij speelde als solist met een groot aantal orkesten, waaronder het Orkest van de Roemeense Nationale Radio, het Philharmonisch Orkest van Boekarest en diverse orkesten in Europa, Amerika en Azië. Onlangs maakte Alexandru een CD-opname met het symfonie-orkest van het Moskous Conservatorium. Zijn recitals zijn uitgezonden op verschillende televisiezenders. Hij neemt sinds 1997 deel aan The International Holland Music Sessions waar hij masterclasses volgde bij Herman Krebbers, Eduard Schmieder, Igor Oistrakh en Igor Ozim.
Greek pianist Stephanos Thomopoulos (1975) graduated from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki at the age of seventeen. In 1996 he graduated from the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne as a student of Arbo Valdma. He currently studies with Jacques Rouvier and Marie-Françoise Bucquet at the Conservatoire Nationale Supérieure de Musique in Paris. Stephanos represented the Paris Conservatory at the Second International European Piano Forum in Berlijn in 1999 and in the same year he was semi-finalist at the International Piano Concours of Porto. As a scholarship recipient from the A.G. Leventis Foundation, he has been a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions in the summers of 1998, 1999 and 2000, following master classes with Marie-Françoise Bucquet, Jan Marisse Huizing, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Lazar Berman. In addition, he has won numerous national and international prizes and awards. Stephanos Thomopoulos gives recitals and chamber music concerts in many European countries. He has played as solist with the symphony orchestras of Athens and Thessaloniki as well as the Jugoslav State Orchestra of Belgrade. He has made several recordings for radio and television.
De Griekse pianist Stephanos Thomopoulos (1975) behaalde op 17-jarige leeftijd zijn diploma aan het Staatsconservatorium van Thessaloniki. In 1996 studeerde hij af bij Arbo Valdma aan de Hochschule für Musik in Keulen. Momenteel vervolgt hij zijn studies aan het Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique te Parijs in de klassen van Jacques Rouvier en Marie-Françoise Bucquet. In 1999 vertegenwoordigde Stephanos het Parijse Conservatorium op het Tweede Internationaal Europees Piano Forum in Berlijn. In hetzelfde jaar was hij halve finalist van het Internationaal Piano Concours van Porto. Als bursaal van de A.G. Leventis Foundation was hij deelnemer aan The International Holland Music Sessions in de zomers van 1998, 1999 en 2000, waar hij masterclasses volgde bij Marie- Françoise Buquet, Jan Marisse Huizing, Karl Heinz Kämmerling en Lazar Berman. Verder heeft hij verschillende nationale en internationale prijzen en onderscheidingen gewonnen. Stephanos Thomopoulos geeft recitals en kamermuziek concerten in vele Europese landen. Hij heeft gespeeld als solist met de symfonie-orkesten van Athene en Thessaloniki en het Joegoslavisch Staatsorkest van Belgrado. Hij maakte diverse opnames voor radio en televisie.
Reiko Otani, violin
Japanese violinist Reiko Otani studied at the Toho-Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo with Toshiya Eto and Koichiro Harada. Since 1996 she has been a student of Igor Oistrakh at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, where she received the masters degree with the greatest distinction in 1998 and continues to pursue post-graduate studies.Reiko was winner of the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poznan, Poland, in 1996, and was a finalist in the Queen Elisabeth International Competition in Brussels in 1997. She has also won prizes in the International Violin Competitions of Hannover (1997), Tokyo (1995) en Freiburg (1994). As soloist she has performed with the Sinfonia Varsovia under the direction of Sir Yehudi Menuhin, as well as in concerts with symphony orchestras in Belgium, Germany, Austria, Poland and Japan. She has also given concerts as soloist and chamber musician at many international festivals including the Salzburg Festival, the International Chopin Festival in Duszniki (Poland), the Kurashiki, Kirishima, Tokyo (International Hindemith Festival) and Moonbeach festivals (Japan) and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and La Jolla Summerfest (United States). Reiko's performances can be heard in many radio and television broadcasts. In addition, she had the honor of performing for the Japanese Imperial Family at Tokagakudo Hall in the Imperial Palace. Reiko has been a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions since 1996.
De Japanse violiste Reiko Otani studeerde aan de Toho-Gakuen School of Music in Tokio bij Toshiya Eto en Koichiro Harada. Sinds 1996 is zij studente van Igor Oistrakh aan het Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussel, waar zij in 1998 met de hoogste onderscheiding afstudeerde. Reiko won het Internationale Wieniawski Concours in Poznan, Polen in 1996 en was finaliste van de Koningin Elisabeth Wedstrijd 1997. Ook won zij prijzen op de Internationale Concoursen van Hannover (1997), Tokio (1995) en Freiburg (1994). Als soliste speelde zij met de Sinfonia Varsovia onder leiding van Sir Yehudi Menuhin, naast concerten met symfonieorkesten in België, Duitsland, Oostenrijk, Polen en Japan. Ook gaf zij concerten as soliste en kamermusicus op vele internationale festivals inclusief Salzburg, Duszniki (Chopin Festival, Polen), Kurashiki, Kirishima, Tokyo (Internationale Hindemith Festival) en Moonbeach (Japan), Santa Fe Chamber Music en La Jolla Summerfest (Verenigde Staten). Reiko Otani's vioolspel werd meermalen uitgezonden op radio en televisie. Tevens had zij de eer op te treden voor de Japanse keizerlijke familie in de Tokagakudo Zaal van het Keizerlijk Paleis. Zij is deelneemster aan The International Holland Music Sessions sinds 1996.
Born in Israel, Inon Barnatan (1979) entered the Tel-Aviv Conservatory of Music at the age of six. In 1994 he became a student of Prof. Victor Derevianko of the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv and Ms. Natasha Tadson, and in 1997 he moved to London to study privately with Maria Curcio. A year later, with a scholarship from the Kennedy Leigh Trust, he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music in London where he presently studies both with Mme Curcio and with Christopher Elton, Head of Keyboard at RAM. Inon has received private coaching from Radu Lupu, Murray Perahia, Leon Fleisher and John O'Conor, and has participated in master classes by Dimitry Bashkirov, Pnina Zaltsman, Oxana Yablonskaia and others. Inon Barnatan has been a laureate of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation since 1996. He has won several national and international prizes in various competitions, including first prize in the Beethoven Society of Europe Competition and second prize in the Porto International Piano Competition, both in London. As a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions Summer Academy 2000, he studied with John O'Conor, Jan Marisse Huizing and Lee Kum-Sing. Inon has played numerous solo recitals in London, Paris, Milan, and New York, in Israel and Partugal and has performed concertos with a number of orchestras, among them the Portuguese National Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra and Jerusalem Kamerata.
De Israëlische pianist Inon Barnatan (1979) werd op zesjarige leeftijd toegelaten tot het Conservatorium van Tel Aviv. Vanaf 1994 studeerde hij aan de Rubin Academy of Music bij Victor Derevianko en Natasha Tadson en vanaf 1997 in Londen als privé-student bij Maria Curcio. Momenteel studeert hij met een beurs van de Kennedy Leigh Trust bij Maria Curcio en Christopher Elton aan de Royal Academy of Music in Londen. Inon genoot privé coaching van Radu Lupu, Murray Perahia, Leon Fleisher en John O'Conor en volgde masterclasses van Dimitry Bashkirov, Pnina Zaltsman, Oxana Yablonskaia en anderen.Hij is sinds 1996 laureaat van de America-Israel Cultural Foundation. Hij won vele prijzen op nationale en internationale concoursen, waaronder de eerste prijs van de Beethoven Society of Europe Competition en de tweede prijs op het Internationale Concours van Porto. Als deelnemer aan The International Holland Music Sessions Zomer Academie 2000 studeerde hij bij John O'Conor, Jan Marisse Huizing and Lee Kum-Sing. Inon Barnatan gaf talrijke solorecitals in Londen, Parijs, Milaan en New York, in Israël en Portugal en speelde soloconcerten met het Portugees Nationaal Orkest, het Symfonieorkest van Haifa en de Jerusalem Camerata.
Israeli cellist Gavriel Lipkind (1977) won the Most Promising Cellist prize at the 5th Rostropovich International Cello Competition in Paris in 1994 and the top prize (first prize wasn't awarded) at the 2nd Leonard Rose International Cello Competition in Washington DC in 1997. Gavriel studied with Uzi Wiesel at the Samuel Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv. As a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions since 1996, he has taken part in the master classes of Dmitri Ferschtman and Wolfgang Boettcher and, additionally, with Ralph Kirshbaum, Aldo Parisot and Franz Helmerson. Currently residing in Frankfurt, he pursues further training with Antonio Meneses, Laurence Lesser and Bernard Greenhouse. Gavriel is active as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed with several symphony orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, the Münchner Sinfoniker, and the Baltimore and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras. He has also played ensembles with Pinchas Zukerman and Ralph Kirshbaum, and his recitals and concerts have been broadcast regularly by Israeli Radio.
At the age of ten, Hungarian pianist Peter Józsa (1975) was enrolled in a special course for talented pupils at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, where he studied with Ferenc Rados and György Nádor. Since 1995 he has attended the Folkwang University of Music in Essen, Germany, studying first with Catherine Vickers and, since 1997, with Boris Bloch. In addition, he has participated in master classes with András Schiff, Hans Leygraf and Oleg Maisenberg. As a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions Summer Academy 2000, he studied with John O'Conor, Jan Marisse Huizing, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Piotr Paleczny. Among Peter's competition prizes are second prize at the 1996 International Chamber Music Competition in Caltanissetta, Sicily, and a special jury prize at the 1990 International Piano Competition in Ettlingen, Germany. In 1998 Peter was given a scholarship to the Klavierfestival Ruhr, and he was invited to open the same festival in June of this year with a performance of one of the piano concertos of Chopin together with Bella Davidovich. He has presented several concerts and radio broadcasts as part of the Budapest Spring Festivals and made his first CD in 1994. Important concert appearances outside his native land have taken him to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria.
Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu (1976) is the son of a violinist mother and a pianist father. He has studied in Berlin and Salzburg with Ruggiero Ricci, in Dresden with Heinz Rudolf, in Interlochen (USA) with Trevor Williams, and in Dallas, Texas, with Eduard Schmieder. He currently studies at the Music Academy of Bucharest and has taken lessons regularly with Stefan Gheorghiu since 1989. Alexandru won first prize in the International Georges Enescu Concours in Bucharest in 1999, second Grand Prix Yehudi Menuhin and the prize for the best recital at the Paris Long-Thibaud Concours. He has also won prizes in the international competitions of Lublin (Wieniawski), Genoa (Paganini), Sion (Tibor Varga) and Pamplona (Sarasate). He has been soloist with such orchestras as the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bucharest and several orchestras in Europe, America and Asia. Alexandru recently made a CD recording with the symphony orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory, and his recitals are broadcast on a number of television channels. A participant in The International Holland Music Sessions since 1997, he has taken part in master classes with Herman Krebbers, Eduard Schmieder, Igor Oistrakh and Igor Ozim.
De Roemeense violist Alexandru Tomescu (1976) is de zoon van een pianist en een violiste. Hij studeerde in Berlijn en Salzburg bij Ruggiero Ricci, in Dresden bij Heinz Rudolf, in Interlochen (Verenigde Staten) bij Trevor Williams, en in Dallas, bij Eduard Schmieder. Momenteel studeert hij aan de Muziekacademie van Boekarest. Ook volgt hij sinds 1989 regelmatig lessen bij Stefan Gheorghiu. In 1999 won Alexandru de eerste prijs op het Internationale Georges Enescu Concours in Boekarest, de tweede Grand Prix Yehudi Menuhin en de prijs voor het beste recital tijdens het Parijse Long-Thibaud Concours. Ook won hij prijzen op de internationale concoursen van Lublin (Wieniawski), Genua (Paganini), Sion (Tibor Varga) en Pamplona (Sarasate). Hij speelde als solist met een groot aantal orkesten, waaronder het Orkest van de Roemeense Nationale Radio, het Philharmonisch Orkest van Boekarest en diverse orkesten in Europa, Amerika en Azië. Onlangs maakte Alexandru een CD-opname met het symfonie-orkest van het Moskous Conservatorium. Zijn recitals zijn uitgezonden op verschillende televisiezenders. Hij neemt sinds 1997 deel aan The International Holland Music Sessions waar hij masterclasses volgde bij Herman Krebbers, Eduard Schmieder, Igor Oistrakh en Igor Ozim.
Greek pianist Stephanos Thomopoulos (1975) graduated from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki at the age of seventeen. In 1996 he graduated from the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne as a student of Arbo Valdma. He currently studies with Jacques Rouvier and Marie-Françoise Bucquet at the Conservatoire Nationale Supérieure de Musique in Paris. Stephanos represented the Paris Conservatory at the Second International European Piano Forum in Berlijn in 1999 and in the same year he was semi-finalist at the International Piano Concours of Porto. As a scholarship recipient from the A.G. Leventis Foundation, he has been a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions in the summers of 1998, 1999 and 2000, following master classes with Marie-Françoise Bucquet, Jan Marisse Huizing, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Lazar Berman. In addition, he has won numerous national and international prizes and awards. Stephanos Thomopoulos gives recitals and chamber music concerts in many European countries. He has played as solist with the symphony orchestras of Athens and Thessaloniki as well as the Jugoslav State Orchestra of Belgrade. He has made several recordings for radio and television.
Japanese violinist Reiko Otani studied at the Toho-Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo with Toshiya Eto and Koichiro Harada. Since 1996 she has been a student of Igor Oistrakh at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, where she received the masters degree with the greatest distinction in 1998 and continues to pursue post-graduate studies.Reiko was winner of the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poznan, Poland, in 1996, and was a finalist in the Queen Elisabeth International Competition in Brussels in 1997. She has also won prizes in the International Violin Competitions of Hannover (1997), Tokyo (1995) en Freiburg (1994). As soloist she has performed with the Sinfonia Varsovia under the direction of Sir Yehudi Menuhin, as well as in concerts with symphony orchestras in Belgium, Germany, Austria, Poland and Japan. She has also given concerts as soloist and chamber musician at many international festivals including the Salzburg Festival, the International Chopin Festival in Duszniki (Poland), the Kurashiki, Kirishima, Tokyo (International Hindemith Festival) and Moonbeach festivals (Japan) and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and La Jolla Summerfest (United States). Reiko's performances can be heard in many radio and television broadcasts. In addition, she had the honor of performing for the Japanese Imperial Family at Tokagakudo Hall in the Imperial Palace. Reiko has been a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions since 1996.
Born in Israel, Inon Barnatan (1979) entered the Tel-Aviv Conservatory of Music at the age of six. In 1994 he became a student of Prof. Victor Derevianko of the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv and Ms. Natasha Tadson, and in 1997 he moved to London to study privately with Maria Curcio. A year later, with a scholarship from the Kennedy Leigh Trust, he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music in London where he presently studies both with Mme Curcio and with Christopher Elton, Head of Keyboard at RAM. Inon has received private coaching from Radu Lupu, Murray Perahia, Leon Fleisher and John O'Conor, and has participated in master classes by Dimitry Bashkirov, Pnina Zaltsman, Oxana Yablonskaia and others. Inon Barnatan has been a laureate of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation since 1996. He has won several national and international prizes in various competitions, including first prize in the Beethoven Society of Europe Competition and second prize in the Porto International Piano Competition, both in London. As a participant in The International Holland Music Sessions Summer Academy 2000, he studied with John O'Conor, Jan Marisse Huizing and Lee Kum-Sing. Inon has played numerous solo recitals in London, Paris, Milan, and New York, in Israel and Partugal and has performed concertos with a number of orchestras, among them the Portuguese National Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra and Jerusalem Kamerata.