cello
Chris van Balen
Born in the Dutch city of Zaandam in 1973, Chris van Balen started taking cello lessons at the age of fifteen, going on to study with Lenian Benjamin, Jean Decroos and Melissa Phelps at the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam.
He has participated in masterclasses with Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniil Shafran, Bernard Greenhouse, Wolfgang Böttcher, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Colin Carr, Ivan Monighetti, Anner Bylsma, William Pleeth, Steven Isserlis, Martti Rousi and Dmitri Ferschtman.
His first audition, at the age of twenty-five, resulted in his appointment with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1998. That same year, he won first prize at the Postbank Sweelinck Competition, the predecessor of the Cello Biennale competition.
Van Balen has given solo performances of the cello concertos of Schumann, Dvořák, Haydn, Boccherini, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Saint-Saëns and Shostakovich. He also plays chamber music in various ensembles, including the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and Camerata Concertgebouworkest.
During and following tours with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, he has given solo and chamber music recitals in Japan, the US and various South American and European countries.
Chris van Balen has the Miremont cello from the collection of the Foundation Concertgebouworkest on loan, that was previously played by former solo cellist Godfried Hoogeveen.
Born in the Dutch city of Zaandam in 1973, Chris van Balen started taking cello lessons at the age of fifteen, going on to study with Lenian Benjamin, Jean Decroos and Melissa Phelps at the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam.
He has participated in masterclasses with Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniil Shafran, Bernard Greenhouse, Wolfgang Böttcher, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Colin Carr, Ivan Monighetti, Anner Bylsma, William Pleeth, Steven Isserlis, Martti Rousi and Dmitri Ferschtman.
His first audition, at the age of twenty-five, resulted in his appointment with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1998. That same year, he won first prize at the Postbank Sweelinck Competition, the predecessor of the Cello Biennale competition.
Van Balen has given solo performances of the cello concertos of Schumann, Dvořák, Haydn, Boccherini, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Saint-Saëns and Shostakovich. He also plays chamber music in various ensembles, including the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and Camerata Concertgebouworkest.
During and following tours with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, he has given solo and chamber music recitals in Japan, the US and various South American and European countries.
Chris van Balen has the Miremont cello from the collection of the Foundation Concertgebouworkest on loan, that was previously played by former solo cellist Godfried Hoogeveen.
Born in the Dutch city of Zaandam in 1973, Chris van Balen started taking cello lessons at the age of fifteen, going on to study with Lenian Benjamin, Jean Decroos and Melissa Phelps at the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam.
He has participated in masterclasses with Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniil Shafran, Bernard Greenhouse, Wolfgang Böttcher, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Colin Carr, Ivan Monighetti, Anner Bylsma, William Pleeth, Steven Isserlis, Martti Rousi and Dmitri Ferschtman.
His first audition, at the age of twenty-five, resulted in his appointment with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1998. That same year, he won first prize at the Postbank Sweelinck Competition, the predecessor of the Cello Biennale competition.
Van Balen has given solo performances of the cello concertos of Schumann, Dvořák, Haydn, Boccherini, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Saint-Saëns and Shostakovich. He also plays chamber music in various ensembles, including the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and Camerata Concertgebouworkest.
During and following tours with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, he has given solo and chamber music recitals in Japan, the US and various South American and European countries.
Chris van Balen has the Miremont cello from the collection of the Foundation Concertgebouworkest on loan, that was previously played by former solo cellist Godfried Hoogeveen.
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Cellist Chris van Balen walks to the dressing room in his costume for the concert in honor of the coronation of King Willem-Alexander. image: Renske Vrolijk/Concertgebouworkest -
Chris van Balen and Clément Peigné image: Ingrid Simons -
Chris van Balen - image: Mladen Pikulic -
Cellist Chris van Balen during his warming up before the start of a rehearsal. image: Renske Vrolijk/Concertgebouworkest
