Soloists for the 2024 season

CELLO

New Zealand born Matthias Balzat (1999) has established himself as an international soloist and chamber musician. His competitive successes include first prizes in the 69th ROSL Annual Music Competition, Sieghardt-Rometsch Instrumental Concerto Competition, International Wallace Cello Competition and New Zealand National Concerto Competition (both 2014 and 2017), as well as 2nd Prize in the Gisborne International Music Competition, and many more. Matthias Balzat has extensive performance experience as a soloist, such as with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester Opus.125, Sinfonietta Köln, St. Matthews Chamber Orchestra, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Robert Schumann Hochschulorchester, Opus Orchestra, and NZ National Youth Orchestra among others. Collaborations with conductors include Guy Noble, Benjamin Northey, Rüdiger Bohn, Leh-Qiao Liao, Peter Scholes, Peter Walls, Cornelius Frowein, Hamish McKeich and more.

Participation and performances at prestigious festivals all over the world include the Aspen Music Festival, Villa Pennisi in Musica, Classiche Forme, Miesbach Kammermusikfestival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Lake District Summer Music Festival, Martinborough Music Festival and Wilma and Friends. Matthias Balzat has enjoyed numerous Masterclasses and chamber music collaborations with notable names, such as Daniel Müller-Schott, Johannes Moser, Wenn Sinn Yang, Wolfgang Schmidt, Richard Aaron, Li Wei Qin, Phillipe Müller, Brannon Cho, Avos Quartet, David and Diego Romano, Alessandro Deljavan, James Baillieu, Benjamin Baker, Daniel Lebhardt, Gould Piano Trio and many more.

Matthias Balzat is currently enrolled in the prestigious Konzertexamen degree at the Robert Schumann Hochschule für Musik in Düsseldorf under renowned soloist Pieter Wispelwey, where he also completed his Master of Music. James Tennant was his previous teacher in New Zealand, with whom he completed his Bachelor of Music at the age of 17 at Waikato University. Matthias Balzat is also a member of Ares Piano Trio.