SANDER GEERTS (viola)

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Sander Geerts is one of the leading Belgian violists.

After getting diplomas at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp with Leo de Neve and the Maastricht Academy of Music with Michael Kugel, he terminated his studies with important viola players such as Ervin Schiffer, Bruno Giuranna, Nobuko Imai, Hartmut Rohde, Tatjana Masurenko and Yuri Bashmet. He has performed as a soloist with various ensembles and orchestras such as the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Philharmonie Baden-Baden and London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2006 he won a Special Prize at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition in the UK.

In September 2012, he became finalist at the 19th International J.Brahms Competition in Austria

From 2008 on, he is principal viola of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

 

Following his passion for chamber music, Sander Geerts formed a viola-piano duo with Yasuko Takahashi. Together they won several prizes at international competitions, such as 'the international competition of young performers' in Madeira (Portugal), 'the Young Musician International Competition for Chamber Music' in Barletta (Italy), and 'the International J. Brahms Competition' in Pörtschach (Austria).

 

They released their debut CD ‘Sonatas’ and the 2nd CD ‘A tribute to Ysaÿe’ both at the label Etcetera Records. Thereafter both CD's are gaining great reputations, such as 'Sonatas' appreciated highly by British classical music magazine Gramophone, and 'A Tribute to Ysaÿe' chosen as CD best 10 by Belgian classical music radio station Klara.

 

In April 2018, Sander Geerts recorded the Double Concerto for clarinet and viola by Max Bruch with Belgian Clarinetist Roeland Hendrikx and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Brabbins, in the famous Henry Wood Hall in London. The CD is released at the label Evil Penguin Records Classic in October 2018.

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