• Thu. 15.06.
  • 8.00 p.m.
  • Bremen
    ·Die ›Kammer-Philharmonie‹
    ·Gesamtschule Bremen-Ost

Romantic sextets

2nd Chamber concert

Works by Brahms and Dvořák

Programme

    • Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
    • String sextet in A major op. 48
    • Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
    • String sextet No. 2 in G major op. 36

Violin

Jeffrey Armstrong

During his studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Jeffrey Armstrong was awarded numerous prizes, most notably the Principal’s Prize for outstanding contribution to the life of the conservatoire. He is currently enrolled in the solo class of Elisabeth Kufferath at the Hanover College of Music, Media and the Arts. In addition, Jeffrey has worked with and received memorable masterclasses from musicians such as Leonidas Kavakos, Lawrence Power, Antje Weithaas, and Eberhard Feltz among others

As a soloist, this young violinist has already performed many concerts including with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in South Africa. He recently won first prize in the UNISA National Music Competition, leading to a performance and recording with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Jeffrey regularly appears as a guest at the Wye Valley Music Festival in England. This violinist is also involved in other projects including the Cape Chamber Music Collective, which he jointly founded in South Africa, as well as the musical education project ›Arco Project‹ for disadvantaged children in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Violin

Saskia Niehl

Saskia Niehl began learning to play the violin at the age of five and has been active in numerous orchestras since the age of nine. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the Freiburg College of Music and her master’s degree in orchestral music at the University of the Arts, Berlin. This young violinist has been a member of the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie since 2016. She was concertmaster of the University Orchestras in Freiburg and Berlin and at Hanover College of Music, Media and the Arts where she is currently a member of Elisabeth Kufferath’s soloist class.

In addition, Saskia has performed as soloist with the Brandenburgische Staatsorchester Frankfurt (Oder) and has deputised with many other orchestras such as the Kammerakademie Potsdam or the Hamburg Camerata.

Saskia is also equally at home in the realm of chamber music. Since 2018, she has been a member of the NERIDA Quartet, with which she has already received several prizes, including the Boris Pergamenschikow Competition Berlin and the Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition.

Viola

Grace Leehan

Grace Leehan began violin lessons aged seven and received viola tuition from the age of eleven. She learned both instruments while studying for her bachelor’s degree at the University of Auckland with Stephen Larsen, where she was awarded ›First Class Honours‹ and the Senior Scholar Award. Grace finally decided to devote herself to the viola and continued her studies with Andra Darzinsat the Stuttgart College of Music and Performing Arts, where she is currently completing her master’s degree.

Grace received a comprehensive musical education which included chamber music, orchestra and also solo playing. Since chamber music is one of her passions, she has participated in various ensembles that have won awards at important competitions and is currently a member of the NERIDA Quartet. As a soloist, Grace is also a prizewinner in the New Zealand National Concerto Competition and the Gisborne International Music Competition. Grace’s orchestra experience includes performances with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. She was also a member of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, where she became an academy student.

Viola

Christopher Rogers-Beadle

Chris Rogers-Beadle began studying violin at the age of 5 before switching to viola at the age of 16. He went on to get his Bachelor’s degree at the Colburn School in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Paul Coletti and would later graduate from Yale University with a master’s degree having studied with Ettore Causa.

Chris has participated in many masterclasses and festivals in the US and Europe and has been a prizewinner in national competitions in the US.

Chris has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras including the Philharmonic Baden-Baden and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Also a seasoned chamber musician, Chris has performed in concert with artists such as Anthony Marwood, Ivan Monighetti, and Augustin Hadelich.

Violoncello

Marc Froncoux

Belgian cellist Marc Froncoux studied at the Music Colleges in both Brussels and Detmold, with Edmond Baert and Professor Andre Navarra respectively. He is the prize winner of several competitions such as the international Premio Vittorio Gui competition in Florence. On completing his studies, Marc Froncoux was appointed teacher of Professor Edmond Baert’s solo class in Brussels and also played solo cello at the Opera in Lucca, Italy.

Marc Froncoux has been solo cellist with The Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen since 1998. In his adopted North German home, he conducts the Oldenburg Chamber Orchestra and is regularly involved in chamber music courses for amateurs.

Along with The Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen he has guested in many concert venues in numerous international capitals. He is one of the section leaders in the orchestra and regularly performs in the orchestra’s series of chamber music concerts.

In his free time, Marc Froncoux enjoys spending time in the country. He trains regularly for his trekking tours in the Himalayas, thus combining healthy exercise with his search for inner calm.

Violoncello

Raphael Zinner

Raphael Zinner received his first cello lessons at the local music school aged four, and in the following years at Weimar’s specialist music school  ›Schloss Belvedere‹.  Since 2018, this cellist has been studying with Troels Svane at Lübeck College of Music. Participation in masterclasses by Peter Bruns, David Geringas, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt and Gustav Rivinius have also provided him with vital musical input. As the first ever three-time winner of ›Jugend musiziert‹, Raphael has also won numerous other prizes at international competitions such as the Heran Competition in the Czech Republic, the Liezen International Competition for Cello in Austria and the David Popper Cello Competition in Hungary. During the 2019/20 season, Raphael held an academy position with the Lübeck Philharmonic.

In addition to his solo playing, he is a passionate chamber musician. He has performed with his piano trio in the Berlin Philharmonie as well as in Boston and Washington. Together with his string quartet, he has performed at the Brahms Festival in Lübeck and at the Atlantic Festival. As prizewinner of the 27th Competition of the German Musical Instrument Fund, he plays a Genoa 1871 Niccolò Bianchi cello.

Violin

Jeffrey Armstrong

During his studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Jeffrey Armstrong was awarded numerous prizes, most notably the Principal’s Prize for outstanding contribution to the life of the conservatoire. He is currently enrolled in the solo class of Elisabeth Kufferath at the Hanover College of Music, Media and the Arts. In addition, Jeffrey has worked with and received memorable masterclasses from musicians such as Leonidas Kavakos, Lawrence Power, Antje Weithaas, and Eberhard Feltz among others

As a soloist, this young violinist has already performed many concerts including with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in South Africa. He recently won first prize in the UNISA National Music Competition, leading to a performance and recording with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Jeffrey regularly appears as a guest at the Wye Valley Music Festival in England. This violinist is also involved in other projects including the Cape Chamber Music Collective, which he jointly founded in South Africa, as well as the musical education project ›Arco Project‹ for disadvantaged children in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Viola

Grace Leehan

Grace Leehan began violin lessons aged seven and received viola tuition from the age of eleven. She learned both instruments while studying for her bachelor’s degree at the University of Auckland with Stephen Larsen, where she was awarded ›First Class Honours‹ and the Senior Scholar Award. Grace finally decided to devote herself to the viola and continued her studies with Andra Darzinsat the Stuttgart College of Music and Performing Arts, where she is currently completing her master’s degree.

Grace received a comprehensive musical education which included chamber music, orchestra and also solo playing. Since chamber music is one of her passions, she has participated in various ensembles that have won awards at important competitions and is currently a member of the NERIDA Quartet. As a soloist, Grace is also a prizewinner in the New Zealand National Concerto Competition and the Gisborne International Music Competition. Grace’s orchestra experience includes performances with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. She was also a member of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, where she became an academy student.

Violoncello

Marc Froncoux

Belgian cellist Marc Froncoux studied at the Music Colleges in both Brussels and Detmold, with Edmond Baert and Professor Andre Navarra respectively. He is the prize winner of several competitions such as the international Premio Vittorio Gui competition in Florence. On completing his studies, Marc Froncoux was appointed teacher of Professor Edmond Baert’s solo class in Brussels and also played solo cello at the Opera in Lucca, Italy.

Marc Froncoux has been solo cellist with The Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen since 1998. In his adopted North German home, he conducts the Oldenburg Chamber Orchestra and is regularly involved in chamber music courses for amateurs.

Along with The Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen he has guested in many concert venues in numerous international capitals. He is one of the section leaders in the orchestra and regularly performs in the orchestra’s series of chamber music concerts.

In his free time, Marc Froncoux enjoys spending time in the country. He trains regularly for his trekking tours in the Himalayas, thus combining healthy exercise with his search for inner calm.