On May 25th, a special and long-awaited masterclass will take place on the Rīga Jūrmala Academy Facebook page with celebrated pianist Yefim Bronfman. Three young, talented Baltic pianists will be taking part in the masterclass: Aleksandrs Kalējs, Mantas Šernius un Elžbieta Liepa Dvarionaite, who are piano students at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
Yefim Bronfman is one of the few artists sought after by festivals, orchestras, conductors and concert halls worldwide. His impressive technique, power and unusual gift for lyricism, which are enjoyed by critics and audiences alike, can be heard this summer at the Rīga Jūrmala Music Festival: Bronfman will perform on August 27th at the Dzintari Concert Hall with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and conductor Daniel Harding.
- All those interested can watch the masterclass online via the Rīga Jūrmala Academy Facebook page.
- More information about Yefim Bronfman here!
Aleksandrs Kalējs is the winner of several international competitions, as well as a finalist at the III International George Gershwin Competition in New York. Having performed in concerts and international festivals throughout Europe and the USA, Kalējs is studying the piano under Professor Sergejs Osokins at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under Professor Avedis Kouyoumdjian. Kalējs will be performing Schumann’s Carnival Scenes from Vienna, Op. 26.
Mantas Šernius has won many international piano music and chamber music competitions, and has performed both as a soloist and as part of chamber ensembles. Having previously studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Šernius is currently undertaking his doctoral studies under Ivari Ilja at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he previously studied for his Master’s in Chamber Music under Professor Marje Lohuaru. Šernius will be performing Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No. 7 in B♭ major, Op. 83.
The third participant is Elžbieta Liepa Dvarionaite, a student at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under Professor Anna Malikova. A participant in many international masterclasses and winner of international competitions, Dvaironaite has performed with orchestras from throughout the Baltics, as well as Czechia’s Virtuosi Brunensis orchestra. Prominent Lithuanian pianist Mūza Rubackīte regularly consults her. Dvaironaite will be performing Scriabin’s Sonata No. 5, Op. 53.
Online Rīga Jūrmala masterclasses have already taken place this year, with leading musicians from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra including Omar Tomasoni (trumpet), Dominic Seldis (double bass), Gregor Horsch (cello), Emily Beynon (flute) and Alexei Ogrintchouk (oboe); the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra including Lionel Cottet (cello); French violinist Renaud Capuçon and German baritone Benjamin Appl; as well as masterclasses with British mezzo soprano Alice Coote and world-class tenor Joseph Calleja.
