Gary Hoffman

cello

Since 2008
Visiting Professor in the Kronberg Academy Study Programmes

Gary Hoffman is one of the outstanding cellists of our time, combining instrumental mastery, great beauty of sound and a poetic sensitivity. He studied with Karl Fruh and János Starker. With 22, Hoffman became the youngest faculty member ever in the history of Indiana University School of Music. He gained international renown on being the first North American to win the Rostropovich International Competition in Paris in 1986.

A frequent soloist with the world’s most noted orchestras, he has appeared with the Chicago, London, Montreal, Toronto, San Francisco, Baltimore and National Symphony orchestras as well as the English, Moscow and Los Angeles chamber orchestras, the Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Netherlands and Rotterdam Philharmonics, the Cleveland Orchestra for the Blossom Festival and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mr Hoffman has collaborated with such celebrated conductors as André Previn, Charles Dutoit, Mstislav Rostropovich, Pinchas Zukerman, Andrew Davis, Herbert Blomstedt, Kent Nagano, Jesús López-Cobos and James Levine. He performs in major recital and chamber music series throughout the world, as well as at such prestigious festivals as those in Ravinia, Marlboro, Aspen, Bath, Evian, Helsinki, Verbier, Mostly Mozart, Schleswig-Holstein and Stresa, the Festival International de Colmar and the Festival de Toulon. He is a frequent guest of string quartets including the Emerson, Tokyo, Borromeo, Brentano and Ysaÿe.

In 2011, Gary Hoffman was appointed Maître en Résidence for the cello at the prestigious Chapelle de Musique Reine Elisabeth in Brussels. As a visiting tutor, he regularly teaches the students of Kronberg Academy since 2008. He performs on a 1662 Nicolo Amati, the “ex-Leonard Rose”.


Last updated: January 2024
Verschiedene Orte in Kronberg, Casals Forum
2026/2027 CMK öffentlicher Unterricht

Öffentliche Cello Meisterkurse

Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Ildikó Szabó

Participants

  • Ildikó Szabó cello
  • Frans Helmerson cello
  • Gary Hoffman cello
  • Jens Peter Maintz cello
  • Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt cello

Programme

Five artistic personalities – five perspectives, five approaches, five paths to music.

Where is the spark that sets everything alight? It is found where great artists inspire young talents and pass on their knowledge and experience. Every two years, Kronberg Academy invites cello students from around the world to the “World Capital of the Cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). Over the course of almost a week, they receive valuable inspiration and guidance from five distinguished teachers in public masterclasses. This year, we are delighted to welcome Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

For interested visitors, the public masterclasses offer a unique opportunity to explore even the most hidden corners of the cello repertoire.

 

Day ticket for the public masterclasses: €12
Valid for all masterclasses on one day; free admission for young people and students under the age of 27.

 

The detailed class schedule will be announced at short notice.

Venues: Casals Forum, Stadthalle, Galerie Opper

 

Programme subject to change.

Tickets
12 €
Großer Saal, Casals Forum
2026/2027 Kronberg Festival - K7

FÜR CASALS

Hoffman, Im, Mun, Rosenthal, M. Shaham, N. Shaham

Participants

  • Anna Im violin
  • Michael Shaham violin
  • Samuel Rosenthal viola
  • Noga Shaham viola
  • Gary Hoffman cello
  • Chloe Jiyeong Mun piano

Programme

Ernest Bloch (1880–1959)
From Jewish Life, B 54

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847)
Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 58

Pablo Casals (1876–1973)
Rêverie

Gaspar Cassadó (1897–1966)
Requiebros

INTERMISSION

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111

Concert introduction at 6:45 p.m. with Prof. Dr. Tiago de Oliveira Pinto.

 

Subject to change

Tickets
35 / 45 / 65 €
Verschiedene Orte in Kronberg, Casals Forum
2026/2027 CMK öffentlicher Unterricht

Öffentliche Cello Meisterkurse

Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Ildikó Szabó

Participants

  • Ildikó Szabó cello
  • Frans Helmerson cello
  • Gary Hoffman cello
  • Jens Peter Maintz cello
  • Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt cello

Programme

Five artistic personalities – five perspectives, five approaches, five paths to music.

Where is the spark that sets everything alight? It is found where great artists inspire young talents and pass on their knowledge and experience. Every two years, Kronberg Academy invites cello students from around the world to the “World Capital of the Cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). Over the course of almost a week, they receive valuable inspiration and guidance from five distinguished teachers in public masterclasses. This year, we are delighted to welcome Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

For interested visitors, the public masterclasses offer a unique opportunity to explore even the most hidden corners of the cello repertoire.

Day ticket for the public masterclasses: €12
 

Valid for all masterclasses on one day; free admission for young people and students under the age of 27.

 

The detailed class schedule will be announced at short notice.

Venues: Casals Forum, Stadthalle, Galerie Opper

 

Subject to change.

Tickets
12 €
Verschiedene Orte in Kronberg, Casals Forum
2026/2027 CMK öffentlicher Unterricht

Öffentliche Cello Meisterkurse

Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Ildikó Szabó

Participants

  • Ildikó Szabó cello
  • Frans Helmerson cello
  • Gary Hoffman cello
  • Jens Peter Maintz cello
  • Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt cello

Programme

Five artistic personalities – five perspectives, five approaches, five paths to music.

Where is the spark that sets everything alight? It is found where great artists inspire young talents and pass on their knowledge and experience. Every two years, Kronberg Academy invites cello students from around the world to the “World Capital of the Cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). Over the course of almost a week, they receive valuable inspiration and guidance from five distinguished teachers in public masterclasses. This year, we are delighted to welcome Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

For interested visitors, the public masterclasses offer a unique opportunity to explore even the most hidden corners of the cello repertoire.

 

Day ticket for the public masterclasses: €12
Valid for all masterclasses on one day; free admission for young people and students under the age of 27.

 

The detailed class schedule will be announced at short notice.

Venues: Casals Forum, Stadthalle, Galerie Opper

 

Programme subject to change.

Tickets
12 €
Verschiedene Orte in Kronberg, Casals Forum
2026/2027 CMK öffentlicher Unterricht

Öffentliche Cello Meisterkurse

Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Ildikó Szabó

Participants

  • Ildikó Szabó cello
  • Frans Helmerson cello
  • Gary Hoffman cello
  • Jens Peter Maintz cello
  • Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt cello

Programme

Five artistic personalities – five perspectives, five approaches, five paths to music.

Where is the spark that sets everything alight? It is found where great artists inspire young talents and pass on their knowledge and experience. Every two years, Kronberg Academy invites cello students from around the world to the “World Capital of the Cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). Over the course of almost a week, they receive valuable inspiration and guidance from five distinguished teachers in public masterclasses. This year, we are delighted to welcome Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

For interested visitors, the public masterclasses offer a unique opportunity to explore even the most hidden corners of the cello repertoire.

 

Day ticket for the public masterclasses: €12
Valid for all masterclasses on one day; free admission for young people and students under the age of 27.

 

The detailed class schedule will be announced at short notice.

Venues: Casals Forum, Stadthalle, Galerie Opper

 

Programme subject to change.

Tickets
12 €
Verschiedene Orte in Kronberg, Casals Forum
2026/2027 CMK öffentlicher Unterricht

Öffentliche Cello Meisterkurse

Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Ildikó Szabó

Participants

  • Ildikó Szabó cello
  • Frans Helmerson cello
  • Gary Hoffman cello
  • Jens Peter Maintz cello
  • Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt cello

Programme

Five artistic personalities – five perspectives, five approaches, five paths to music.

Where is the spark that sets everything alight? It is found where great artists inspire young talents and pass on their knowledge and experience. Every two years, Kronberg Academy invites cello students from around the world to the “World Capital of the Cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). Over the course of almost a week, they receive valuable inspiration and guidance from five distinguished teachers in public masterclasses. This year, we are delighted to welcome Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

For interested visitors, the public masterclasses offer a unique opportunity to explore even the most hidden corners of the cello repertoire.

 

Day ticket for the public masterclasses: €12
Valid for all masterclasses on one day; free admission for young people and students under the age of 27.

 

The detailed class schedule will be announced at short notice.

Venues: Casals Forum, Stadthalle, Galerie Opper

 

Programme subject to change.

Tickets
12 €
Verschiedene Orte in Kronberg, Casals Forum
2026/2027 CMK öffentlicher Unterricht

Öffentliche Cello Meisterkurse

Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Ildikó Szabó

Participants

  • Ildikó Szabó cello
  • Frans Helmerson cello
  • Gary Hoffman cello
  • Jens Peter Maintz cello
  • Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt cello

Programme

Five artistic personalities – five perspectives, five approaches, five paths to music.

Where is the spark that sets everything alight? It is found where great artists inspire young talents and pass on their knowledge and experience. Every two years, Kronberg Academy invites cello students from around the world to the “World Capital of the Cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). Over the course of almost a week, they receive valuable inspiration and guidance from five distinguished teachers in public masterclasses. This year, we are delighted to welcome Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

For interested visitors, the public masterclasses offer a unique opportunity to explore even the most hidden corners of the cello repertoire.

 

Day ticket for the public masterclasses: €12
Valid for all masterclasses on one day; free admission for young people and students under the age of 27.

 

The detailed class schedule will be announced at short notice.

Venues: Casals Forum, Stadthalle, Galerie Opper

 

Programme subject to change.

Tickets
12 €