Sébastien van Kuijk cello and his Van Kuijk Quartet have taken First Prize at the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition in Norway. Mr van Kuijk, along with his quartet members, Nicolas Van Kuijk violin, Sylvain Favre violin, and Grégoire Vecchioni viola, were also awarded the coveted Audience Prize.
Formed in 2011, the Van Kuijk Quartet studies at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris under the tutelage of the Ysaÿe Quartet. The ensemble has appeared on several radio and television shows in France, and has performed in various festivals with artists such as Dana Ciocarlie and pianist and singer Angelika Kirchschlager.
The Australian Music Foundation, of which Arts Global President Heather de Haes is International Director, hosted an evening of Australian Art and Music on 19 September 2013. Co-sponsored by Christie’s and taking place at the Christie’s Auction House in London, the event featured performances by the 2013 Australian Music Foundation awardees as well as previews of the Australian Art sale.
Please click the underlined date to view the event invitation.
The Foundation is immensely saddened by the recent passing of one of its closest advisors and friends, Michael Green.
Michael Green was a Swiss-based British journalist, lecturer and communications consultant. He was a staff writer, correspondent and editor for several major publications, and wrote and edited specialist books, films and videos on a variety of subjects.
Born in London, Michael was educated at Oakham and Rugby Schools. He attended the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and the Sorbonne in Paris, studying English and French literature. He was particularly noted for his in-depth interviews with leading personalities, including heads of state, world political and business leaders, prominent artists and performers.
Michael Green will be greatly missed by all of us at Arts Global.
Arts Global is proud to announce that journalist and writer Kim Akhtar has joined the staff as the new Director of Artistic Operations USA. Ms Akhtar is currently contributing editor at Food & Wine and Departures magazines, and has served as speechwriter and media assistant for both television anchorman Dan Rather as well as Queen Noor of Jordan. A published writer of three books, Ms Akhtar is also fluent in six languages.
Last night, 20 August 2013, featured the rare Blue Moon, a double-appearance of a full moon in a one-month period. This unusual event, occurring about once every three years, has long been associated with change and renewal of spirit – a fitting metaphor for Arts Global as we welcome Kim Akhtar to the team!
Please click the underlined date for publicity photos.
Arts Global is pleased to announce recent career advancements of two of its hard-working staff members:
Brendan Moffitt (pictured far right) is expanding his career profile by moving on from his role of Arts Administrator: he will be working in the field of his newly gained academic qualification: a Masters degree in International Relations, from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Boston, MA.
Executive Assistant to Heather de Haes, Sam Nester (pictured left), begins his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the famed Manhattan School of Music in September this year. He will be working in the Music History Department as well as the Brass Department during the course of his studies. His association with Arts Global continues as Assistant, Special Projects.
Congratulations to our colleagues!
After its impressive and unforgettable participation in 2012, L’Orchestre International de Genève (L’OIG), the partner orchestra of Arts Global, was invited for the second time to headline at the International Piano Festival in Saint-Ursanne, Switzerland. The two concerts given on 9 August as part of A Night of Concerti were fully sold out in advance, and following works by Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky and Chopin, the musicians enjoyed a standing ovation by an enthusiastic audience. On 11 August, the performance of Alexandra Conunova violin, an Arts Global laureate, with German pianist Caspar Frantz brilliantly summarized the talent and success of Arts Global artists.
Please click the underlined date to view photos of the concert venue, the Cloître et Collégiale in Saint-Ursanne.
After a First Prize victory at the famous Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, Alexandra Conunova violin is the 2013 Winner of the Julius Baer Prize. She was regarded as the most accomplished artist among all the participants at the master classes of the Verbier Festival Academy.
Ms Conunova, selected from 500 applicants to Verbier, has been choosen for the Prize from among the 41 students of all nationalities attending the prestigious Academy. Only eight violinists, and a small number of pianists, cellists, viola players, chamber music ensembles and singers, have had the honor to participate this year.
Alexandra Conunova violin, Arts Global alum and recent First Prize winner of the International Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in Hannover, together with Valda Wilson soprano, a performer in the recent tour of Korea with Foundation partner L’OIG and the London Cello Sound, have been invited to participate in the selective masterclasses of the famous Verbier Festival. Amidst the inspiring landscape of the Swiss Alps and a stimulating musical atmosphere, Ms Conunova will collaborate with such masters as Ivry Gitlis, Mihaela Martin and Boris Kuschnir. Ms Wilson will perform in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy as well as in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.
Arts Global is pleased to announce the loan of its Giovanni Grancino cello (Milan, 1700) to Michael Bialobroda, newly appointed Emerging Artist of the Foundation. Michael was one of the four principal cellists for the Cello Orchestra’s recent Swiss/Korean tour.
He is shown here playing the cello after receiving it in London.
L’Orchestre International de Genève and the London Cello Orchestra, in association with Arts Global, were greeted with standing ovations throughout their 9-concert Swiss/Korean tour.
The 20-cello Orchestra assembled in Geneva for rehearsals and gave their first concert on 19 June at Théâtre du Léman, sponsored by NV Logistics and Tag Heuer. The audience responded to the rich sound of the massed cellos and excitement was in the air. This intensified during the eight concerts which followed in South Korea, culminating in two near-sellout performances in the country’s premier venue, the 2,500-seat Seoul Arts Center.
Notable was the spirit which emerged amongst the musicians during the tour. Coming from England, France, Spain, Switzerland and the United States, they formed an exceptional bond, both on and off the stage. They shared the kinship of their instrument and the knowledge that 20 highly accomplished professional cellists performing together is a truly rare phenomenon.
We warmly thank Dominique Föllmi, President of L’Orchestre International de Genève, Heather de Haes, President of Arts Global and Music Zoo Entertainment, Seoul, for their tireless work in bringing this major undertaking to fruition. Valda Wilson was acclaimed as the guest soprano; Geoffrey Simon was Artistic Director and conductor; Clément Dumortier was tour manager. Spectacular cello orchestra arrangements were produced for the tour by Richard Birchall and Paul Sarcich.
Click on the date above to see the first review translated from Korean. Further reviews and photographs will be posted when available.
