Vestards Šimkus
Vestards Šimkus - Latvian pianist and composer
Person from Latvia
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About Vestards Šimkus
Pianist Vestards Šimkus was born in Jūrmala, Latvia, on August 21st, 1984, and began to gain an international recognition after debut performances with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, KREMERata Baltica, Nord-West Deutsche Philharmonie, Orquestra Sinfonica del Valles and Tallin Chamber Orchestra in such concert halls as Wiener Konzerthaus, Tokyo Opera City, Salle O.Messiaen (Paris), Berwald hall (Stockholm), Konserthuset (Stockholm), Moscow Conservatory, Prague Rudolfinum and Amsterdam Concertgebow among others as well as after becoming a 1st-prize-winner of several international piano competitions, including the 55th Maria Canals International piano competition in Barcelona (Spain, 2009) and the 5th Bad Kissingen KlavierOlympiade international piano competition (Germany, 2007). Shimkus began his piano studies at age of five in 1989 in Emīls Dārziņš Music School in Rīga. He has studied with Dmitri Bashkirov and Claudio Martinez Mehner in Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia (Madrid), Daniel Pollack in University of Southern California (Los Angeles), Vadim Suchanov in Richard Strauss Konservatorium (Munich), has also studied composition with Pēteris Vasks and has participated in several piano master classes under Boris Berman, Lazar Berman, Alexander Satz, Emanuel Krasowsky, Peter Frankl, Joan Havil, Alexander Sandler and Igor Zhukov. Shimkus' collaborations with such conductors as Lawrence Foster, Andris Nelsons, Vassily Sinaisky, Anu Tali, Eri Klas, Jonathan Darlington, Olari Elts, Salvador Brotons and Woldemar Nelsson as well as his recital, concerto and chamber music performances throughout Europe, USA, Middle-East and Japan have often brought a storm of appreciation from audiences and critics. He has been invited to perform in Kissinger Sommer Festival, Germany (2008), Bergen Festival, Norway (2006), Gidon Kremer Festival in Lockenhaus, Austria (2005), KREMERata Baltica Festival in Sigulda, Latvia (2004, 2005), Stoke-on-Trent Festival, UK (2007), Stavanger International Chamber Music Festival, Norway (2004, 2009) and Al Bustan Festival in Beirut, Lebanon (2005, 2007). Vestard Shimkus has been a stipendiate of the foundation New Names of the Planet, has been awarded with the White Star Order of Estonia and Grand Music Award of Latvia 2002. Some of his compositions have been published by SCHOTT Music & Media. He has released two CD albums and his newly composed Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra was premiered on July 2008. During the 2009-10 concert season, further engagements include a solo CD-album recording on Naxos label with Sonatas of Spanish baroque composer Antonio Soler, a solo CD-album on Wergo label with the world premiere recording of Four Seasons piano cycle by Latvian contemporary composer Pēteris Vasks, a tour in China and recital and concerto appearances in New York, Rome, Paris and throughout Spain. Shimkus also plays jazz and has given several solo concerts consisting just of his spontaneous piano improvisations.
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