Cello professors

Now regarded as one of the finest cellists of the younger generation, Alexander Chaushian has performed extensively throughout the world as a soloist with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Academy of St Martin-in- the-Fields, The London Mozart Players, The Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, The Boston Pops and The Armenian Philharmonic, and has given highly acclaimed performances in such venues as London’s Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Wigmore Hall, Sala Verdi Milan, Konzerthaus Vienna, Suntory Hall Japan, the main Carnegie Hall New York, and Symphony Hall Boston.

He performs regularly in festivals throughout the world and is the Artistic Director of the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus and the Yerevan Music Festival in Armenia.

After initial studies in Armenia, Alexander Chaushian studied in the UK at the Menuhin School and the Guildhall School, London. He then pursued advanced studies at the Hochschule Berlin, graduating with distinction in 2005. He is a laureate prize winner of many international competitions including the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and the ARD Competition in Germany. As an alumnus of Young Concert Artists, New York, he toured extensively in the USA.

Recognised for his celebrated interpretations as soloist, his extensive exploration of chamber music with some of the finest musicians today, and a dedication to widening the cello literature, Marc Coppey is considered to be one of the world’s leading cellists – in addition, now with a growing reputation as a fine conductor on the international podium.

A protégé of Lord Yehudi Menuhin and Mstislav Rostropovich, Coppey first shot to international acclaim at the age of 18, winning First Prize and ‘Prize for the Best Bach Performance’ at the prestigious Leipzig Bach Competition (1988). Soon thereafter, he made major debuts in Paris and Moscow in collaboration with Yehudi Menuhin and Victoria Postnikova (captured on film by the celebrated director Bruno Monsaingeon), and performed at the Evian Festival by personal invitation of Mstislav Rostropovich. Since then, Coppey has carved out an impressive solo career to date, working regularly with many of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors – including, amongst others, Alain Altinoglu, Lionel Bringuier, Lawrence Foster, Alan Gilbert, Kirill Karabits, Emmanuel Krivine, John Nelson, Pascal Rophé, Yan Pascal Tortelier, and Yutaka Sado. He was made Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Cultural Ministry in 2014.

Gustav Rivinius is the first and only German musician to be awarded a first prize Gold Medal at the 1990 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. In addition, he received a special prize for the best interpretation of a Tchaikovsky composition, outperforming all other competitors. Since then he has appeared with leading musicians, orchestras and conductors around the world. 

Among the many high points of an illustrious career, Gustav Rivinius has performed with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lorin Maazel (Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme), Ingo Metzmacher (B.A. Zimmermann’s Cello Concerto, “pas de trois”) and was conducted by Hans Zender in a performance of Zender’s Cello Concerto “Bardo”, which he also premiered. In celebrations marking the re-opening of the Spanish Hall at Prague Castle, Gustav Rivinius joined the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vaclav Neumann, performing Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. In a gala marking the 50th anniversary of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra the cellist performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, accompanied by Antje Weithaas and Lars Vogt and conducted by Horst Stein. Gustav Rivinius has often appeared as a soloist with the orchestra and toured with it throughout Germany, performing Martinu’s second Cello Concerto, conducted by Manfred Honeck. 

Gabriel Schwabe is a laureate of three of the world‘s most prestigious cello competitions: the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann in Berlin, the Concours Rostropovich in Paris and the Pierre Fournier Award in London. As a soloist he has worked with important orchestras such as the London Philharmonia, the Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin, the NDR Radio Philharmonic, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the DSO Berlin, the Malmö and Norrköping Symphony Orchestras and the NCPA Orchestra Beijing with conductors such as Marek Janowski, Eivind Gullberg-Jensen, Dennis Russell-Davies, Cornelius Meister, Giancarlo Guerrero, Michael Sanderling and Marc Soustrot.

In chamber music, Gabriel Schwabe regularly performs with artists such as Isabelle Faust, Christian Tetzlaff, Lars Vogt, Kirill Gerstein and Enrico Pace. In 2010 he gave his recital debut at London’s Wigmore Hall. He is a regular guest at festivals such as the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival, Kronberg Festival, Amsterdam Biennale and Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

Since 2015, he has been an exclusive recording artist with record label Naxos. His debut CD (Brahms Sonatas and Songs with pianist Nicholas Rimmer) was released the same year. Releases with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra under Marc Soustrot, the Royal Northern Sinfonia under Lars Vogt and the Deutsches Sinfonieorchester Berlin under Antoni Wit followed to great critical acclaim.

David Geringas (Vilnius, Lithuania 1946), cellist, conductor and founder of an orchestra for young artists – the Geringas Chamber Orchestra – represents one of the most influential musicians of our time. He is considered an authentic bridge between the East European and Western cellist traditions.

A pupil of Mstislav Rostropovich at the Moscow Conservatory and winner of the gold medal at the 1970 Tchaikovsky Competition, he has won prestigious awards during his career including two Echo Klassik and the Grand Prix du Disque for his recordings of the twelve concertos for cello and orchestra by Boccherini, conducted by Bruno Giuranna.

Renowned contemporary composers have dedicated several works to him. His discography includes more than 120 discs.For years he has devoted himself to teaching and his legendary cello class included students such as Gustav Rivinius, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Monica Leskovar,Tatiana Vassiljeva, Jing Zhao, Johannes Moser, Tim Park, Maximilian Hornung and Sol Gabetta.

Since 2005 he teaches at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. In 2023, he won the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Classical Music Awards, being described as “a passionate musician, a brilliant mind, an example of what the world of music needs in the difficult times we live in”.