Cello Masterclasses
Discover the rich culture of cello playing at the Kronberg Festival where, every two years, Kronberg becomes the “World capital of the cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). This year, five renowned cellists will teach students from across the globe during the Festival. These public tuition sessions provide opportunities to simultaneously experience diverse approaches to artistry and teaching whilst offering ever more familiarity with the repertoire of wonderful cello music.
To reflect the Cello Masterclasses being held this year, the focus of the Festival will be firmly on the cello, with concerts from the masterclass tutors and selected students. Talks, workshops and presentations will also offer a host of interesting insights into the cello and its music. And next year the violin will be at the forefront – with the Violin Masterclasses.
Come to Kronberg!
Throughout the course of a week, students learn from five cello luminaries and experience five different cello schools in the process. A variety of interesting talks and workshops complement the daily lessons. The master concerts given by the tutors and other artists provide particularly special musical experiences.
The registration deadline is June 10, 2024
Promotional prizes
During the closing concert of selected masterclass students, three sponsorship awards are presented: the Landgrave of Hesse Prize, the Boris Pergamenschikow Scholarship and the Frans Helmerson Award.
- Students aged 28 years and below (born no earlier than 1996) are eligible to take part in the 2024 Cello Masterclasses as active (if selected) or passive participants.
- Those applying for selection as active participants will complete an audition at the beginning of the Masterclasses. Applicants can choose freely from the audition repertoire list (see below); entire works or excerpts can be played.
- AUDITION REPERTOIRE
Please choose two pieces/movements from different stylistic periods:
SOLO: Bach Solo Suites or every kind of Solo Pieces
CONCERTOS: Dvorak, Elgar, Haydn, Lalo, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Tchaikovsky (Rokoko-Variations)
SONATAS FOR CELLO AND PIANO: Beethoven, Debussy, Franck, Prokofiev, Shostakovich,
Schubert (Arpeggione Sonata), Schumann (Adagio und Allegro, Fantasiestücke, 5 Stücke im Volkston)
VIRTUOSO PIECES: after consideration
- Piano accompaniment will be provided. A panel of judges will make the final decision on which candidates to admit as active masterclass participants.
- Each student may only receive tuition from one tutor. Classes with Marie-Elisabeth Hecker are only available for students between the ages of 12 and 17.
- Any students not admitted as active participants will automatically become passive course participants.
- All participants, whether active or passive, are eligible to attend the masterclasses and will gain free entry to the concerts and other events.
- Active participants will receive at least two tuition sessions with their tutor as well as a certificate of participation at the end of the classes.
- A number of participants selected by the tutors will perform at the final concert of the Cello Masterclasses 2024 in the Casals Forum.
- The Kremerata Baltica will be a guest and enable selected students to play works by Joseph Haydn, Luigi Boccherini and Peter I. Tchaikovsky in the final concert. These students can work with the orchestra on one of the following works:
Joseph Haydn: Cello Concerto No 1 in C major Hob .Viib:1
Joseph Haydn: Cello Concerto No 2 in D major Hob. Viib:2Luigi Boccherini: Cello Concerto No 7 in G major G.480Luigi Boccherini: Cello Concerto No 9 in B flat major G.482 (original version)Peter I. Tchaikovsky: Pezzo capriccioso op. 62
- Selected participants, both active and passive, will be given the opportunity to perform in our new FRINGE concert format (performance duration of 5-7 minutes). FRINGE forms part of the Kronberg Festival and offers great artistic freedom to the participants. Whether playing music for solo cello, cello and voice, cello and percussion or cello trio, no limits are placed on creativity. No grand or upright piano will be available on the open air stage, however.
Anyone wishing to participate in the FRINGE concerts must pre-register (stating the planned performance format) using the registration form.
FRINGE will take place on 26 September 2024 from 6.00 to 6.30pm.
Your registration is only valid upon payment of the registration fee of €300. After completing the registration process using the form on this website, we request that you pay your registration fee immediately via the Eventim ticket portal. You can make payments here by credit card (Visa/Mastercard/American Express), direct debit, SOFORT transfer, PayPal or wire transfer (advance payment). The payment link and code required for the order process will be sent to you by email as soon as you have submitted your registration form. Please check your spam folder.
- Accompanying legal guardians must also pay a participation fee of €300. In return, they receive the same benefits as a passive student (free attendance at the masterclasses and a selection of the festival concerts).
- The additional participation fee of €80 per tuition session for students admitted as active participants must be paid in Kronberg at the start of the Masterclasses.
- The number of places is limited. Applications will be considered in the order of dates on which payment is made. We will send you brief confirmation that your registration documents and payment have been received.
- Cancellations must be made in writing. Fees will only be reimbursed if the cancellation is made before August 25, 2024. In this case, a cancellation fee of €40 will be payable to cover administrative costs. Any bank fees will also be deducted from the amount reimbursed. Refunds will be made by bank transfer. Please inform us of your bank account details to enable us to pay the refund of €210. Participants who fail to attend will not be reimbursed.
Accommodation will only be provided for the duration of the Masterclasses, from 22 September to 1 October. In the event of earlier arrival in or later departure from Kronberg, students shall be responsible for their own accommodation. Only single rooms are provided by host families and in the hotels. Should students require double rooms or other accommodation, they must pay the registration fee and organise their own place to stay.
Accommodation with host families
We can offer up to 60 students accommodation with host families in Kronberg. Applications will be considered in the order of dates on which payment is made. Students must pay a contribution of €20 per night towards expenses. These payments should be made directly to the host family – please do not add the amount onto your payment to Kronberg Academy.
All host parents offer this service because they have an interest in intercultural exchange and wish to support the international character of Kronberg Academy and the Masterclasses. We kindly ask that you show due respect for this hospitality.
Host families are not obliged to provide chauffeuring for students or to offer Wi-Fi, nor are they responsible for catering for students.
Rules for accommodation with host families
- No additional persons may be brought to the host family’s residence (friends, family members etc). Enquiries relating to this (regarding visits) may only be made via the Festival office.
- The host family’s house rules must be adhered to.
- Students are only permitted to visit one another at a host family’s home in agreement with the respective family. Night-time visits are strictly prohibited.
Accommodation in hotels
We can offer up to 50 students accommodation at B&B Hotel Frankfurt-West. 20 of these rooms can be booked as double rooms with separate beds. Applications will be considered in the order of dates on which payment is made. The Kronberg Academy Foundation will pay 50% of these hotel costs.
The hotel is in close walking distance of the “Eschborn Süd” S-Bahn station, meaning that the Casals Forum can be reached in approximately 15 minutes on the S4 train. Students will be responsible for their own transport. Single, all day and weekly tickets can be purchased via the RMV website or from the ticket machines at the station.
Catering
Participants are responsible for their own meals. Host families can decide independently whether they will offer food to students or not. There is a Rewe supermarket and a variety of cafes and restaurants within walking distance of the Masterclasses venues in Kronberg and the B&B Hotel. Breakfast is NOT included in the hotel package, but can be booked independently at a cost of €12.90.
The central venue for the Masterclasses is the Casals Forum. This is located at Beethovenplatz 1, directly adjacent to Kronberg’s train station. We recommend travelling by S-Bahn (city train). Further information on travel options can be found here.
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