Escher Trio Amsterdam

Escher Trio Amsterdam has disbanded

"A stylistically congenial match as cohesive in ensemble as they are in depth of tone... the Escher Trio captured it all!"
Washington Post

Sonja van Beek, Violin
Jeroen Bal, Piano
Johan van Iersel, Cello

The Escher Trio Amsterdam have already claimed a prominent place on national and international stages. What sets this trio apart is their talent to immediately create strong ties with its audience.

Already during their first year of existence, the Escher Trio Amsterdam was awarded the European Music Prize which was followed by the Theodor Rogler prize, the prestigious International ARD Competition in Munich, Germany, and the A. Bosboom prize for artistic qualities.

The trio toured through the US, Germany, the Czech Republic, Norway, and South America, receiving international critical acclaim such as from the Washington Post as well as presenters - "These outstanding young musicians from The Netherlands have succeeded in creating a trio in which the ideal balance between ensemble and their individual personalities is always optimally maintained. I recommend them without reservation." - Nathan A. Randall, Artistic Director, Princeton University Concerts, who has invited them for the third time to his illustrious series.

The Escher Trio Amsterdam engages in regular collaborations with prominent artists such as Miranda van Kralingen and Claron McFadden, and with orchestras. Under the baton of Frans Brüggen, they perfomed Ludwig van Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major, op.56 with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra.

This trio has already performed virtually all of the important piano trio literature of the last three centuries, yet it constantly remains in search of new compositions. It is no coincidence that composers such as Nicolai Korndorff and Robin de Raaff have been inspired to dedicate works to the trio. The most recent CD recording Arensky and Korngold received rave reviews.

The young Escher Trio Amsterdam was fearured on AVRO Dutch Television as part of a program entitled "Youth on Stage." During their first years, they have been invited numerous times to perform in master classes for such legendary musicians as Isaac Stern, Mstislav Rostropovitsj and Menahem Pressler. Now the trio itself gives workshops and coachings to young ensembles at the Amsterdam Conservatory.

Johan van Iersel, Cello
Since 1997, Mr. van Iersel has held the principal cello position of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Mr. van Iersel has won prize at the S.J.M.N. competition, and silver medals at the Postbank Sweelinck and Princess Cristina competitions. He is frequently invited to appear as soloist with such orchestras as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, and the resident orchestra in the Hague. His recording of the Casanova Concerto by Johan de Meij is the benchmark recording of this work. The cello he plays was created in 1687 by the Cremonese master Francesco Ruggieri. It is owned by the Concertgebouw Orchestra Instrument Collection.

Sonja van Beek, Violin
Ms. van Beek has won already many first prizes as a young violinist and went on to win the first prize at the National Violin Competition Oskar. Sonja van Beek has also performed as soloist with orchestras and with the Cameleon Ensemble and has appeared at the Salzburger Festspiele. She has recorded the complete oeuvre for violin and piano with Andreas Frölich works of Granados and Turina, tangos of Piazzola and Korngold, and works by Granados, Piazolla and Turina. Currently she is professor at the conservatory of Groningen in The Netherlands and violin coach and student selector for the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival in Germany. Her violin is a Camillus Camilli, Mantua 1739.

Jeroen Bal, Piano
Jeroen Bal has won top prizes and honors such as the Princess Christina Concours, first prize at the "Vriendenkrans" Prize from the Concertgebouw, and in 1993 he was a finalist at the International Franz Liszt piano competition. Jeroen Bal studied piano at the Conservatory of Amsterdam where he graduated cum laude in 1997. From that same year on he also started to work at the conservatory as a coach/accompanist. Jeroen has attended master classes of Gyorgy Sebok, Boris Berman and Gyorgy Sandor. In June 1999 Jeroen made a concert tour through Venezuela.

June 2008 - Please destroy all previous versions