Programme
Barber - Cello Sonata in C minor, Op.6
Beethoven - Cello Sonata in A, Op.69
Schumann - Fantasiestücke, Op.73
Grieg - Cello Sonata in A minor, Op.36
Praised for her "technical mastery" and "extraordinarily musical" performances (Morgunbladid, Iceland) Icelandic-American cellist Geirþrúður Anna Guðmundsdóttir is carving a distinctive musical voice, combining sensitivity with a bold and fiery stage presence. She has performed at venues across the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Southbank Centre, the Warsaw Philharmonic, Lincoln Center, and the Banff Centre, and appeared as soloist a with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, among others. Her performance in Reykjavík's Harpa Concert Hall of the six Bach Cello Suites, was hailed as "an awe-inspiring experience (Frettabladid, Iceland).
Geirþrúður has been a prize winner at numerous competitions, including the Anton Rubinstein International Cello Competition, Hellam Young Artist Competition, the New York International Artists Association Competition, the Philharmonic Society of Arlington Young Artist Competition, and the Thaviu String Competition. Most recently, she was a semi-finalist at the Lutoslawski International Cello Competition and was selected as a 2024 City Music Foundation Artist. Additionally, she has received fellowships from the Jean-Pierre Jaquillat Memorial Foundation, the American-Scandinavian Foundation and the American-Scandinavian Society. She is a fellow of the Leifur Eiríksson Foundation and a former scholar of the Drake Calleja Trust.
A passionate chamber musician, she was awarded the Gold Medal and Grand Prize at the 2022 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition with the Terra String Quartet, as well as receiving the chamber music prize at the Ecole d'Art Américains de Fontainebleau, the top prize at the Dover String Quartet Competition, and appearing as a semi-finalist at the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition. She has performed at festivals across the United States and Europe, including IMS Prussia Cove, Kneisel Hall, the International Holland Music Sessions, Hvide Sande Masterclasses, the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, and the Harpa International Music Academy.
Geirþrúður made her debut in 2013 with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and graduated with a Soloist Diploma from the Reykjavík College of Music the same year. She went on to complete her undergraduate studies with Hans Jensen at Northwestern University in Chicago and received a master's degree from The Juilliard School, where she studied with and served as Teaching Assistant to Natasha Brofsky. She also received an Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music in London, under the tutelage of Hannah Roberts.
A Naïve Records Exclusive Artist and multi-award winner, Franco-Belgian pianist Antoine Préat is being noticed for his "distinctive voice" and strong musical convictions.
Antoine has been invited to perform in prestigious venues including the Wigmore Hall, St John's Smith Square, Salle Gaveau, Salle Cortot, Paris Beaux Arts Museum, Frederyk Chopin Insitute, as well as festivals such as the Nohant Chopin Festival, Lisztomanias, Chopin à Bagatelle, Les Nuits du Piano in Paris, IMS Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove and Encuentro de Santander. He has appeared on BBC Radio 3, France Musique, Scala Radio and RTBF Musiq3.
Antoine has performed alongside leading artists and orchestras including Maté Szücs, Miclen LaiPang, Margarita Balanas, Manuel Blanco, Sinfonietta Lausanne, Lesley Hatfield, Robin Ireland, the Centre de Musique de Chambre de Paris, Sainsbury Soloists, Academy Festival Orchestra, University Orchestra of Alicante and London Student Orchestra.
Throughout his career, Antoine has also been fortunate to receive guidance from Philippe Cassard, Cedric Pescia, Thomas Adès, Boris Berman, Robert Levin, Jerome Lowenthal, Richard Goode, Imogen Cooper and Stephen Hough.
After graduating with honours from the Ecole Normale de Paris where he studied with Liudmila Berlinskaia and Guigla Katsarava, Antoine furthered his studies at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Guildhall School of Music under the tutelage of Tatiana Sarkissova and Ronan O'Hora, while studying harpsichord and fortepiano under the guidance of Carole Cerasi.
Antoine was awarded the first prize of the Concours international dIle de France and the Los Angeles Colburn Piano Festival Competition, the honour prize at the New York Début Piano Competition and most recently was a semifinalist at the Clara Haskil Competition 2021.
Passionate about education, Antoine has also been teaching for several years and has been invited several times to teach at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.
Antoine is generously supported by the City Music Foundation, Talent Unlimited, the Munster Derek Butler Award, Hattori Foundation and the Winifred Christie Trust Award.
