Avi Schönfeld
Encyclopedia
Avi Schönfeld is a Dutch-Israeli pianist and composer. He was born in Lodz, Poland on December 15, 1947.
. After having won several national and international prizes (including the first prize in the Leo Kestenberg competition and one with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
), Schönfeld made his début with the Israeli Radio and Television Orchestra playing Rachmaninov's Paganini Variations before embarking on a concert career that was to take him round the world, embracing also his gifts as composer. In November 1972 at the invitation of the French government, he undertook further studies with Vlado Perlemuter
, Yvonne Lefébure
, Arthur Rubinstein
, Marcel Ciampi
in piano and Henryk Szeryng
in chamber music as well as with Nadia Boulanger
and Alexandre Tansman
in composition. After a period of teaching at the Royal Brussels Conservatory, Avi Schönfeld was appointed to a post at the Maastricht Conservatory, in the Netherlands, where he still teaches. In addition to his work, he is also artistic director and founder of EPRIM (European Pianistic Research Institute of Maastricht) as well as artistic adviser to the Anglo Dutch Piano Platform and the Académie Pianistica of the Maastricht Municipal Theatre. Schönfeld frequently receives commissions for writing the obligatory piano compositions for several piano competitions and further serves as a jury member in different international piano competitions.
Life
Schönfeld gave his first concerts in his native Poland before at the age of 19 going to Israel to become a pupil of the Bartók disciple Ilona Vincze-KrausIlona Vincze-Kraus
Ilona Vincze-Kraus was a well known teacher of current classical piano pedagogues in the US.- Education and Professional History :...
. After having won several national and international prizes (including the first prize in the Leo Kestenberg competition and one with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra of the Israel Broadcasting Authority is a major orchestra of Israel...
), Schönfeld made his début with the Israeli Radio and Television Orchestra playing Rachmaninov's Paganini Variations before embarking on a concert career that was to take him round the world, embracing also his gifts as composer. In November 1972 at the invitation of the French government, he undertook further studies with Vlado Perlemuter
Vlado Perlemuter
Vlado Perlemuter was a Lithuanian-born French pianist.-Biography:Vlado Perlemuter was born to a Polish Jewish family, the third of four sons, in Kovno, Russia . At the age of three, he lost the use of his left eye in an accident.His family settled in France in 1907...
, Yvonne Lefébure
Yvonne Lefébure
Yvonne Lefébure was a French pianist.Born in Ermont, she studied with Alfred Cortot at the Paris Conservatoire, taking a premier prix in piano and numerous other subjects. She soon appeared with the Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux and the Orchestre des Concerts Colonne and in recital. She...
, Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
, Marcel Ciampi
Marcel Ciampi
Marcel Paul Maximin Ciampi was a French pianist and teacher. He held the longest tenure in the history of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and also became head of piano classes at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England...
in piano and Henryk Szeryng
Henryk Szeryng
Henryk Szeryng was a Polish violinist.-Early years:He was born in Żelazowa Wola, Poland on 22 September 1918 into a wealthy family....
in chamber music as well as with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
and Alexandre Tansman
Alexandre Tansman
Alexandre Tansman was a Polish-born composer and virtuoso pianist. He spent his early years in his native Poland, but lived in France for most of his life...
in composition. After a period of teaching at the Royal Brussels Conservatory, Avi Schönfeld was appointed to a post at the Maastricht Conservatory, in the Netherlands, where he still teaches. In addition to his work, he is also artistic director and founder of EPRIM (European Pianistic Research Institute of Maastricht) as well as artistic adviser to the Anglo Dutch Piano Platform and the Académie Pianistica of the Maastricht Municipal Theatre. Schönfeld frequently receives commissions for writing the obligatory piano compositions for several piano competitions and further serves as a jury member in different international piano competitions.
Compositions
Among his compositions for piano are: Animato, Sphinx, Labyrinthe, Ombres and Tango-Etude (all published by Max Eschig/Durand), Agitato and Jeu (Henry Lemoine), Légende (Editions Combre), Sonatine Mediterranean - furthermore five piano sonatas (nr. 3: Notturno, nr. 4: Hommage a Chopin, nr. 5: C minor). Among chamber works are a violin sonata and a Ballade for violin and piano, cello sonata, a clarinet sonata, a suite for two pianos and an almost finished piano concerto.Commentary
Other musicians said about Avi Schönfeld:- Arthur RubinsteinArthur RubinsteinArthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
: "A very promising and talented artist".http://www.avischonfeld.com/http://www.editionhh.co.uk/ab_as.htm - Ilona Vincze-KrausIlona Vincze-KrausIlona Vincze-Kraus was a well known teacher of current classical piano pedagogues in the US.- Education and Professional History :...
: "As a pianist Schönfeld is the most excellent virtuoso of our time and he is an accomplished musician and a sensitive artist besides."http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/albnz/06927392599603895332268/AR-EDI-0000-00055-02.pdf - Alexandre TansmanAlexandre TansmanAlexandre Tansman was a Polish-born composer and virtuoso pianist. He spent his early years in his native Poland, but lived in France for most of his life...
: "I was sincerely impressed with Mr. Schönfeld's deep musical personality, the maturity and freshness of his conception, the perfection and clarity of his technique and sense of form and sonority."http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/albnz/06927392599603895332268/AR-EDI-0000-00055-02.pdf
External links
- Picture with Schönfeld as jury member at the international piano competition in Saint-Nom-la-Breteche (France), March 2002.**
- Concert program of Schönfeld's London debut with biography.**
- Conservatory Maastricht/Schönfeld.**
- Schönfeld/website.**
- Scores Sonatina/Cantilene/Fantaisie.**
- Scores/Eschig publications.**
Sources
- http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/albnz/06927392599603895332268/AR-EDI-0000-00055-02.pdf
- http://www.left-hand-brofeldt.dk/Catalogue_s.htm
- http://www.editionhh.co.uk/ab_as.htm
- http://www.avischonfeld.com/krantenrartikel1.html http://www.avischonfeld.com/krantenrartikel2.html http://www.avischonfeld.com/krantenrartikel3.html http://www.avischonfeld.com/krantenrartikel4.html
- http://www.avischonfeld.com/