Classical Back Stage

Trio Asteria

Trio Asteria is a newborn ensemble, formed by three young musicians who are developing their studies at Conservatorium Maastricht. Although it only started its activity in 2021, all three members have shared the same passion and commitment from the very beginning. Their dedication towards making music together have brought them to the beginning of an intensive journey through the inspiring piano trio repertoire. 

Programme:
Ilgın Top (violin), Benedetta Baravelli (cello) and Raquel Dosío Arias (piano) 

Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor
I. Allegro energico e con fuoco
II. Andante espressivo
III. Scherzo: Molto allegro quasi presto
Felix Mendelssohn 1809-1847 

Kchachaturian Trio

Born in Conservatorium Maastricht, Kchachaturian Trio is an innovative and very promising ensemble of the current music scene. It  was  formed  in  2021  by  these  three  talented  musicians(Gabriela  Graboń  –  violin,  Erika  García  –  clarinet  and  Seulbi Cho  –  piano)  with  the  aim  of  exploring  the  20th  century repertoire and present it widely to the audience. The three of them share an endless passion for chamber music which can be felt in any of their performances, where a special symbiosis emerges from them. This ensemble has recently been selected to participate in the finals  of  the  20e  music  award  Maastricht,  being  considered one of the top ensembles of the conservatory. At  the  moment  they  spend  their  time  doing  professional studio  recordings,  participating  in  different  competitions  in the  Netherlands  as  well  as  in  their  home  countries  (Poland and  Spain)  and  playing  concerts  mainly  in  the  city  of Maastricht. They  receive  regular  chamber  music  training  from  the remarkable   Russian/Dutch   pianist   Anastasia   Safonova, combined with the guidance of other teachers and musicians from the school, such as Roeland Hendrikx.

Programme:
Gabriela Graboń (violin), Erika García (clarinet) and Seulbi Cho (piano)

A. Khachaturian - Trio for clarinet, violin nad piano
1. Andante con dolore
2. Allegro
3. Moderato

A. Piazzola - La muerte del Angel

A. Arutiunian - Suite for violin, clarinet and piano
1.Introduction
2. Scherzo
3. Dialog
4. Final

Doré Quartet

Doré Quartet, named after the french artist Gustave Doré, is an upcoming string quartet with young members from Italy and Spain. Created in 2021 within the Conservatorium Maastricht by four Master students, brought together by the love for chamber music, its aim is to explore the repertoire for string quartets and give their performance a unique and elegant touch as well as engaging the audience with each note.They chose to start their musical journey together with F. Mendelssohn Quartet No.2 in A minor,  because they  believe  it  combines  the  classical  lyricism  of the  young  composer  and  the passionate struggle of the early romantic Era.The quartet is made up of: violinists Ilaria Taioli, pupil of Kyoko Yonemoto, and Samuele Di Gioia, pupil of Boris Belkin; violist José Manuel Muriel López, pupil of Julia Dinerstein and cellist Caterina Vannoni, pupil of Gustav Rivinius. Doré Quartet is currently having lessons with Marc Tooten.

Programme:
Ilaria Taioli (violin), Samuele Di Gioia (violin), José Manuel Muriel López (viola), Caterina Vannoni (cello)

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), String Quartet No.2 in A minor Op.13
I. Adagio - Allegro vivace
II. Adagio non lento
III. Intermezzo: Allegretto con moto - Allegro di molto
IV. Presto - Adagio non lento

Øsimun Quartet

Øsimun Quartet is a saxophone quartet formed by Maria Bel Serra (Soprano Saxophone, ES), João Rodrigues (Alto Saxophone, PT), Inés González Gómez (Tenor Saxophone, ES) and Ricard Martínez  (Baritone  Saxophone, ES). The chamber  music  group  was  created  in  September when the four driven musicians crossed paths in the Conservatorium Maastricht (NL) where they all currently study. Their motivation and ambition lead to a strong ensemble capable of working  different  kinds  of  repertoire  and  music  genres  (both  original  and  not  original  for saxophone quartet).Presently, Øsimun Quartet is based in Maastricht(NL). Since the group is still very young, their priority is to broaden their repertoire by working on different pieces, including transcriptions from other formations. As a young and open-minded group, all members are very interested in the partnership between the quartet and young composers that can result in new works for this specific formation and in the contribution for the career of a young composer. To keep up with the high standard that the quartet possesses, they constantly challenge themselves by participating in competitions and to have lessons from several teachers across Europe. In the last few months, the Øsimun Quartet has been preparing its first concert program with special  focus  on Ciudades by  Guillermo  Lago.  The  hard  work  involved  in  preparing  such program, gave the ensemble the motivation to search for concert opportunities to present themselves. Nowadays, all members of the quartet study in the Maastricht Conservatory, being regularly coached by Kyoko Yonemoto, Eva van Grinsven and Jean-Pierre Cnoops.

Programme:
Maria Bel Serra (soprano Saxophone), João Rodrigues (alto saxophone), Inés González Gómez (tenor saxophone) and Ricard Martínez (baritone saxophone)

Six bagatelles - György Ligeti [1923-2006]
Capriccio Op.81 - Felix Mendelssohn [1809-1847]
Romanian Folk Dances - Béla Bartók [1881-1945]
Ciudades - Guillermo Lago [1960]
I.Córdoba
II.Sarajevo
III.Addis Ababa

Hamlet Trio

The Hamlet Piano Trio was created in 2020 within the Maastricht Conservatory by a group of students curious to delve into the repertoire of the piano trio, from the classical period to the 20th century, making their concerts an energetic and fresh performance with a great purely characteristic sound.  

In 2021 they received a full scholarship to attend the European Summer Course of Chamber Music at the Orlando Festival (Netherlands), where they had the opportunity to take classes from Shunske Sato, Shuann Chai, Osiris trio, Nemtsov Duo, Henk Guittart, and Michael Gees.  

The ensemble developed its musical career between the Netherlands and Belgium performing in cities such as Maastricht (Theater aan het Vrijthof, Matty Niël Zaal), Kerkrade (Abdij Rolduc), Heerlen (Glaspaleis Schunck) and Keerbergen (Sint Michielskerk). The Hamlet trio is selected to represent the Maastricht Conservatory in concerts.  

The trio is made up of the violinist Petra Heric, a pupil of Boris Belkin, the cellist Pelayo Cuéllar Sarmiento, a pupil of Alexander Chausian, and the pianist Aleandro Giuseppe Libano, a pupil of Joop Celis. As a group, they are under the guidance of Kyoko Yonemoto.

Programme:
Petra Heric (violin), Pelayo Cuéllar Sarmiento (cello) and Aleandro Giussepe Libano (piano)

A. Arensky (1861-1906): Piano Trio no.1 in D minor, op.32 (1st movement)
D. Shostakovich (1906-1975): Piano Trio no.1 in C minor, op.8

Caffeetrio

Caffetrio is a newly formed ensemble based in Maastricht which was formed by Ilgın Top who currently studies classical violin under the guidance of Boris Belkin, Lluc Pascual Sarret who continues his cello studies with Gustav Rivinius and Irem Yunkuş who currently studies piano under the guidance of Katia Veekmans. Caffetrio is currently working on a broad and various repertoire which consists works from different musical periods, for example J. Haydn and D. Shostakovich. The trio is looking forward to continue exploring pieces from different repertoire under the guidance of Kyoko Yonemoto and continue performing on a regular basis. 

Programme:
Ilgın Top (violin), Lluc Pascual Sarret (cello) and Irem Yunkuş (piano)

D. Shostakovich (1906 - 1975) - Piano Trio no:2 in e minor Op.67

Cassiopeia Quintet

The Cassiopeia Quintet was born at Conservatorium Maastricht at the end of 2021 due to its members' desire to create a new musical project. Currently the ensemble studies under the tutelage of Marc Schaeferdiek and continuously tries to discover and deepen the repertoire of the woodwind quintet, an ensemble full of possibilities.

Programme:
María Varela Grandío (flute), Lilian Curbelo Martínez (oboe), Nel Ferreiro Gómez (clarinet), Miguel Castro García (bassoon) and Marina Mielgo Martín (horn)

Bläserquintett op. 91 Hermann Zilcher (1881-1948)
Früling
Sommer

The Planets op. 32 Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Jupiter

Trois Pièces Brèves: Jacques Ibert (1890-1862)
Allegro
Andante
Assez lent

Vroemen, Meyer, Hoffmann

Sarah Meyer (1998) Before starting her studies at Conservatorium Maastricht, the German soprano completed a  training as a teacher for breathing, speech and voice. In September 2021 she commenced her studies under the tutelage of Yvonne Schiffelers. Throughout her childhood and adolescence Sarah sang in numerous choirs in Hannover, her home town,  where she also appeared in productions by the Staatstheater Hannover. Soon after moving to Maastricht, Sarah Meyer and Malena Hoffmann began singing duets by among anothers Brahms, Mendelssohn and Vivaldi as vocal duet, accompanied by Koen Vroemen on the piano. Koen Vroemen Koen Vroemen (2003) is a Dutch pianist, organist and conducter. He studies Piano with Joop Celis at the Conservatorium Maastricht and has organ lessons with Hans Leenders. After a successful carrière as a boy-soprano, Koen is now establishing himself as a soloist, chamber music musician, accompanist and cor-repetitor on piano and organ, and as a (choir) conducter. He has worked with Studium Chorale, Opera Zuid, Philharmonie Zuid-Nederland, Capella Sine Vinculis, Toonkunstkoor Roermond, Marjon Lambriks, Martin Hurkens, Reinbert de Leeuw and others. Malena Hoffmann (2001) The young singer from Germany started singing in different choirs and ensembles throughout her adolescence. She made her first experiences on stage when she joined the youth choir at the Stadttheater Gießen, where she also sang her first solo as the main part in the children's opera “Eloise“ by K. Jenkins. Malena Hoffmann had private singing lessons with Prof. Katharina Kutsch in Freiburg and Gabriele Hierdeis in Grünberg before moving to Maastricht.In the summer of 2021 she sang in the choir of the opera production “Carmen“ by G. Bizet as part of the Jeunesse Musicales in Weikersheim. Since September 2021 Malena Hoffmann studies with Yvonne Schiffelers at the Conservatorium Maastricht.

Programme:
Sarah Meyer (voice), Melena Hoffmann (voice), Koen Vroemen (piano)

A. Vivaldi (1678-1741) - Gloria in D-Major, RV 589: III. Laudamus Te  
J. Brahms (1833-1897) - Drei Duette, Op. 20: No. 3 "Die Meere"
F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) - Sechs Duette, Op. 63: No. 4 "Herbstlied"