Florian Donderer is first violin of Signum Quartet, one of the most adventurous and outstanding string quartets of today, as well as longstanding concertmaster of The Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen. He is a versatile musician, highly valued as chamber musician, soloist, concertmaster and conductor, collaborating with distinguished musicians such as Paavo Järvi, Steven Isserlis, Lars Vogt, Viktoria Mullova, Elisabeth Leonskaja and his wife and brother in law, Tanja and Christian Tetzlaff.

Florian Donderer is frequent guest at major festivals such as Bergen Festspielen, Beethovenfest Bonn, Festwochen Berlin, Schwetzinger Festspiele and is core member at ›Spannungen‹, one of Germany’s most prominent music festivals, founded by Pianist Lars Vogt. Concerts with Signum Quartet have taken him to international podia from Berlin‘s Boulez-Saal and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg to London’s Wigmore Hall and Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Florian Donderer is especially renowned as an artistic leader, directing orchestras from the concertmaster’s desk. Top Chamber Orchestras such as Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Kammerorchester Basel, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and Camerata Bern, invite him as director and soloist. Last year‘s recording ›Haydn and Bach Cello Concertos‹ with Steven Isserlis, Florian Donderer and The Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen has received a Grammy Nomination. He made his debut as conductor with Ensemble Oriol and Christiane Oelze at Berlin Philharmonic Hall, followed by a CD recording with Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen and Tanja Tetzlaff. He has conducted among others the Kammerakademie Neuss, the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim and Festival Strings Lucerne. This year Florian Donderer has taken on the position of artistic director of the chamber music festival of the city of Rottweil, one of Germany’s longest standing festivals. With his wife, Tanja Tetzlaff he is curating a chamber music series at Sendesaal Bremen.

He plays a violin built by German Violinmaker Peter Greiner in 2003 and bows by Nico Plog from Antwerp.

This multiple award-winning pianist, Born in 1970, is considered »Finland’s most internationally renowned jazz musician« (Jazz Finland). As a »natural phenomenon on the keys« (Jazzthing) Iiro Rantala is a singular master of his instrument, able to expertly combine virtuosity with intelligence, emotion and humour.

Rantala studied Jazz Piano at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, as well as classical piano at the Manhattan School of Music. In his home country, he is a superstar and musical ambassador with his own television programme. However, this excellent all-rounder is well-known far beyond the borders of Scandinavia, having won an ›Echo Jazz‹ in the category ›Best International Pianist‹. His very own Trio Töykeät, with whom he also played until 2006, has given 2300 concerts in over 40 countries and with his surprising ideas, has turned many genres – particularly the tango – completely upside down.

In addition, Rantala has composed for numerous theatre pieces, musicals and feature films and since 2011 has been at the helm of the Jazz Piano Festival in Kapsäkki. Alongside his work for fim, television, radio and also as solo artist, Rantala has also produced several great albums; the album ›Lost Heroes‹ released in 2011 was celebrated by the Süddeutsche Zeitung as a »Masterpiece« and the German Record Critics’ Award was only one of several prestigious awards it received. The Finn regularly performs with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen and never fails to amaze his audience.