JOHN VAN
IERSEL - CELLO
Cellist Johan van Iersel graduated with high honors from the Utrecht Conservatory in 1995 as a student of Elias Arizcuren and subsequently completed his studies with Philippe Muller at the Conservatoire Superieur National of Paris. Mr. van Iersel has participated in master classes given by such artists as Heinrich Schiff, Mstislav Rostropovitch and Siegfried Palm. Mr. van Iersel has been successful at competitions on the national and international arenas. In 1991 he won first prize at the S.J.M.N. competition, and silver medals at the Postbank Sweelinck and Princess Cristina competitions. In 1992, together with pianist Jeroen Bal, Mr. van Iersel won the Zilveren Vriendenkrans from the Friends of the Concertgebouw and Concertgebouw Orchestra Foundation. In 1991 he formed the Escher Trio which has since performed throughout Europe and America. In 2002 the Escher Trio was awarded the Theodor Rogier prize at the prestigious ARD competition in Munich, Germany. He is also a founding member of the Blaeu String Quartet. Mr. van Iersel 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. Since 1997 Mr. van Iersel has held the principal cello position of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He is honored to play a cello created in 1687 by the Cremonese master Francesco Ruggieri. This cello is owned by the Concertgebouw Orchestra Instrument Collection, generously made possible by private donations. |
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