2-5 may 2025
Cello Masterclass
Kirill Rodin, Kirill Kraftzoff, Sujari Britt e Mauro Paolo Monopoli
Organized in cooperation with the Russian Cello Academy
The Masterclasses will take place from 2 to 5 May 2025 in Trani (Italy, Puglia). The program for the lessons of the masterclass is free.
The students will have Lesson/s with each professor.
The students will also participate in a cello ensemble workshop lead by Professor Kraftzoff with a final concert on the 3 of May.
Requirements:
The Masterclasses is open to cellists, of any age or nationality.
1. Kirill Rodin cello masterclass
– inscription fee: 100 euros
– masterclass tuition fee: 300 euros
2. Kirill Kraftzoff cello masterclass
– inscription fee: 100 euros
– masterclass tuition fee: 300 euros
3. Sujari Britt cello masterclass
– inscription fee: 100 euros
– masterclass tuition fee: 300 euros
4. Mauro Paolo Monopoli cello masterclass
– inscription fee: 100 euros
– masterclass tuition fee: 300 euros
OTHER INFORMATION:
The deadline for sending an application to the Masterclass is the 25 of March 2025.
STAYING AND EATING in TRANI:
The organization of the Masterclass will give you the possibility to sleep and have full meals with
very cheap costs.
HOW TO GET TO TRANI:
– Airport in Bari (40 km far from Trani) and transfer to Trani with train
– Rome airport and train from Roma Termini station to Trani
HOW TO PAY:
All the payment fees must be made when you send your application to attend the Masterclass by transfer to this account
IBAN IT79 C360 9201 6000 9579 9232 960
BIC (SWIFT) QNTOITM2XXX
ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE E MUSICALE HERMES
If the applicant is not admitted to Masterclass the fee will be refunded.
If the application is successful but the student withdraws from the Masterclass, there will be No refund.
For other information you can call
+39 3468296657
Or send e-mail to accademia.filarmonica.med@gmail.com
Kirill Rodin
Kirill Rodin is a Russian cellist and a professor of cello.
He is currently professor at MOSCOW TCHAIKOVSKY CONSERVATORY, and guest professor at BEIJING CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC and SHAIGHAI CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.
He won the first prize at the XIV International Jeunesses Musicales Competition (Belgrade, in 1984, first prize and special prize Golden Harp, Chairman of the jury was the great Andre Navarra) and the first prize at theVIII INTERNATIONAL TCHAIKOVSKY COMPETITION (MOSCOW, 1986, 1 PRIZE AND GOLD MEDAL).
Rodin works regularly with some of the best musicians of the world such as V.GERGIEV, V. FEDOSEEV, CH. DITOUT, YUSTAS FRANTZ, M. SCHOSTAKOVICH, M. GORENSTEIN, V. OVCHINNOKOV, S. STADLER, M. FEDOTOV, F. LIPS, N. SACHENKO, A. DIEV
Rodin was born in Moscow in 1963. He started practicing cello at seven years old, as he participated in classes held by Vera Birina at the Gnessin Special Music School in Moscow.[2] He then continued his studies with Natalia Shakhovskaya at the Moscow Conservatory.
Rodin has performed in 50 different countries on all five continents, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand. While he travels to various countries to perform on stage, Rodin is a professor at the Moscow Tchaikovsky conservatory, teaches cello in China and held master classes in Germany, Australia, Spain, Argentina, Japan, South Korea, China and Australia.[1][3] Rodi has also served as a jury in several international cello competitions.
Rodin’s recordings include the music of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Shostakovitch, Khrennikov, Myaskovsky and Piazolla.
Kirill Kraftzoff
Artistic director and leader of the world-famous cello quartet “Rastrelli”, with which he has performed more than 2000 concerts in 35 countries.
He began his musical and artistic training at the age of six, at the “Special School for Highly Gifted Children” at the State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, under the supervision of Prof. Mark Reisenstock.
At the age of 14, Kraftzoff made his debut with the St. Petersburg Radio Symphony Orchestra, in the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, with Aram Khatchaturian’s Cello Concerto. Among his early competitions, one deserves special mention: in the National USSR Competition in 1988, Kraftzoff received the highest award as the youngest finalist.
He continued his studies with Prof. Anatoly Nikitin at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg and graduated with distinction in 1994. Afterwards, Kraftzoff worked for four years as a lecturer in Nikitin’s cello class while continuing his studies as a student of the legendary Daniel Schafran. In 1993, as a representative of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, the young cellist, was able to participate in Mstislav Rostropovich’s first master class in Russia after his long exile. He then came to Stuttgart through a student exchange program and studied there with Prof. Peter Buck, the cellist of the “Melos Quartet”.
Kira Kraftzoff has won international competitions in Spain, South Africa, Italy, Germany and Austria. As a soloist, he has been a guest of the Philharmonie in St.Petersburg, Berlin and Munich. He has also performed in the Alte Oper Frankfurt, the Tonhalle Zurich, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Laiszhalle Hamburg, the Stefaniensaal Graz, the Mozarteum Salzburg, the Grand Park in Chicago, the Taegue Philharmonie in South Korea and others. Festivals like the Davos Music Festival, the Schwetzingen Festival, the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, the Rheingau Music Festival, the Ludwigsburg Castle Festival, the Colorado Music Festival, the Savonlinna Festival in Finland, the Musical Olympus in St. Petersburg are an integral part of the concert calendar. Kira Kraftzoff worked with fellow artists such as Gidon Kremer, Krzysztof Penderecki, Gilles Apap, Giora Feidman and David Geringas.
The list of radio and television recordings includes productions for NBC, BR, SWR, HR, NDR and NHK.
The TV station “Russia 1” produced a 40-minute documentary about his life and his artistic career. From 1991 to 1994, before founding the Rastrelli Cello Quartet, Kira Kraftzoff was the first cellist of the “St. Petersburg Soloists,” a position which he also held in the “Württemberg Chamber Orchestra” in Heilbronn from 1998 to 2005.
In 2010, he started his career as a conductor and founded the “Rastrelli Chamber Orchestra.” In 2012, he founded the “Russian Quattro” – the world’s first professional string quartet with two violins and two cellos. From 2005 to 2010, he was professor of strings at the State University for Art and Culture in St. Petersburg.
Since 2023 – Advisor to the Rector of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov.
Sujari Britt
Cellist and composer Sujari Britt is an accomplished performer who has engaged audiences in Asia, EU, UK, and US. According to Britt, “The depth, range and sweetness of the cello seemed to resonate with my own strong voice… I immediately knew that I had encountered my musical voice in the cello, and so began my journey.” Britt delved into composition soon after she began her public performances. Britt describes her compositions as reflective of a “state of mind…I see and feel through music, and composition is another medium for experience, expression, and exposure”. Britt has premiered her original works, and also composes for theater, film (Opus 1, Norway) and dance.
A native New Yorker, Britt began formal study of the cello at age four, following her study on the violin, and piano; and began to compose at age five. Britt earned her Professional Diploma (Cello, Composition) at the Royal Academy of Music (London) in the studio of international soloist, chamber musician and critically acclaimed recording artist Josephine Knight, and pedagogue of composition David Gorton. Britt earned her Master’s of Classical Cello from Sibelius Academy (Finland) with renowned cellist and pedagogue Martti Rousi; and her Bachelor’s of Music in Classical Cello Performance at Manhattan School of Music(NYC) in the studio of distinguished pedagogue, author and cellist Marion Feldman.
Britt counts among her experiences in North America, presentations and performances at C2 Montreal for “Transformative Collisions” and Neopolitan Connection Concert Series (Montreal and Toronto, Canada). Among her exploits in the USA, Britt played with a wide range of artists, including Sting, Kronos Quartet, and others, and served in the NY Philharmonic (substitute). Britt performed with Alisa Weilerstein at the White House for President Obama, the First Lady, and their distinguished guests, and has performed as soloist with West Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra , Queens Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra , Chicago Sinfonietta, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Symphony Orchestra , New York Chamber Orchestra, among others. Britt is a repeat soloist at Carnegie Hall, and was featured for recurrent performances at the UN for their international HeforShe , and for their annual World Humanitarian Day.
Britt was a special guest performer at The MET (NYC), The Gracie Theatre (Maine), the Harman Arts Center (Washington, DC), at Midori and Friends Children’s Music Festival; and was a featured artist for the Shakespeare Company’s annual gala honoring Elizabeth McGovern at the Harman Arts Center. Britt presented at Madison Square Garden during quarter time for the NY Knicks, and made special guest solo performances for Gary Historic and Cultural Society, Sujari was featured at TEDx-Redmond of TED Talks, the Miami Bach Society, among her numerous presentations. Britt also serves in the Arts Leadership Program of From the Top (USA).
Britt has a global reach, including her work with Helsinki Chamber Orchestra (EU), Orchestre de Associacao Cultural Inovarte (EU), and as soloist featured artist at Musiikkitalo, Cellofest Opening Gala, and Taidepiste events (Helsinki). Britt also was featured in Beijing Super Cello Festival (Beijing) and as soloist with Orchestra Romana de Tineret (Bejin).
Outspoken for her interest in sharing the universality of music and supporting music education, Britt conducts master classes at various universities and institutes of music, serves in the Arts Leadership Program of From the Top (USA), and co-founded and serves as Artistic Director for Accademia Filarmonica del Mediterraneo (Italy); where she has taken up residence. In her leadership role for the Accademia, Britt has successfully negotiated interest from Institutes of Culture, and was invited by the Ministry of Culture (Bahrain) to perform in their international music festival.
Britt arduously seeks partnerships with musical institutes of higher learning, including Austin State University School of Music and others.
Featured on national and international news stories at an early age, Britt has been spotlighted in Strings and Time magazines, BBC live radio, Strings Magazine, StayThirsty Spotlight Artist to watch, THKR/RadicalMedia PRODIGIES, a TIME for Kids/Time Magazine, Ebony.com, Katie! with Katie Couric, and NBC TheGrio’s “100 History Makers in the Making.”
Britt won the National Young Musicians Concerto Competition and is the distinguished recipient of prestigious academic scholarships and awards, and grand prize winner of numerous national and international competitions.
Britt plays a Neuner and Hornsteiner cello made in Mittenwald, Germany circa 1718, generously loaned to her by the Carlsen Cello Foundation.
Mauro Paolo Monopoli
Born in June 2000, he began studying the cello at the age of 5 years, obtaining the Cello Diploma at the age of 17 at the Piccinni Conservatory of Bari, with full marks, honors and special mention, never before awarded to a cellist in the history of the Bari Conservatory.
First prize in numerous national competitions (Euterpe di Corato, Mirabello in Musica, “La Puglia suona well” by the Petruzzelli Foundation of Bari, “Talents of Music – International Association of Lions Clubs”), he established in the international music world at the age of 14 with the Second Absolute Prize at the prestigious “Tournoi International de Musique de Paris”. In 2017 he is Laureate and Prizewinner at the prestigious X Tchaikovsky International Competition for young musicians (the most important competition in the world for young cellists).
The only Italian musician awarded in the history of the legendary Competition, he stands out among over 400 candidates from all over the world judged by a jury composed of Sergey Roldugin, Kirill Rodin, Boris Andrianov, Laszlo Mezo, Martti Rousi, Ravil Kulmametov, Unil Jin, Na Mula.
Mauro studied at the “Corsi di alto perfezionamento” of the Academy of the Stauffer Foundation of Cremona with the applause of the Maestro Rocco Filippini for his extraordinary musical and technical skills, being the youngest musician never admitted in the history of the Academy, at only 13 years old.
On 22 June 2016 he received from the President of the Camera dei Deputati of the italian Parliament the Medal of Merit of the Chamber of Deputies for his merits artistic fields in the national and international field.
In May 2017 he performed in concert at the Taneeva Concert Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and the Concert Hall of the Tchaikosvsky House Museum in Klin for the Tchaikovsky Spring Festival – Tchaikovsky Competition Stars and is a great success performing as a soloist with the Eurasian Symphony Orchestra in the Sinfonia Concertante for cello and Prokofiev’s orchestra at the Zhambyl Zhabaev Concert Hall in Astana. In September 2017 she performed as soloist, accompanied by the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, at the 5th International Festival of Russian Culcura and Italian “Oci ciornie” alongside international stars such as Ramm, Kravchenko and other great musicians.
In the 2018 he performed at the 2nd Tchaikovsky International Festival by the Association Tchaikovsky Competition Stars, performing in the most important halls of Moscow including the prestigious Great Concert Hall of the Gnessin Academy.
Invited by the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, in 2019 he performed for the Cellofest at the Musiikkitalo Concert Hall in a series of concerts alongside numerous international stars.
In 2021, he qualified for the stages finals of the Geneva International Competition, the only Italian cellist in the history of the Geneva Competition achieve this result.
In October 2019 he performed at the prestigious Festival Internazionale de Solistas of Caracas in Venezuela, representing the Italian Government, performing the Rococo Variations of Tchaikovsky with the legendary Orquesta Sinfònica Simòn Bolivar conducted by Rodolfo Saglimbeni.
Mauro performed as a soloist all over the world with prestigious orchestras in many countries: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Argentina, United States, France, Finland, Venezuela, Denmark, Uruguay, Bulgaria, Greece, Cuba, Ecuador, Norway, Japan.
In 2024 he performed for the Tchaikovsky International Music Festival as a soloist with the
State Academic Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra Tchaikovsky of conductore Vladimir Fedoseev in one of the most important festivals in the world that sees the participation of Valery Gergiev, Yury Bashmet, Denis Matsuev and others…
Mauro has performed in chamber ensembles with Marc Danel, Simone Gramaglia, Eyal Kless, Lorraine Campet, Sujari Britt, Alessandro Deljavan, Ruslan Talas, Anastasia Ushakova, Joshua Brown and Massimiliano Monopoli.
He attended Masterclasses and studied with Rocco Filippini, Natalia Shakohovskaya, Mario Brunello, Martti Rousi and Lluis Claret.