David Geringas

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”.