Roland Krüger

Teaching Languages : English, German
Teaching Period : August 21 - 25, 2026

First prize winner of the prestigious Concours de Genève in 2001, Roland Krüger performed in many important international venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Musikhalle (Laeiszhalle) in Hamburg, the Philharmonic Hall of Cologne, the Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Casino in Basel, the Beethoven Hall in Bonn, the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, the Rheingau Musik Festival or the Festival di Ravello in Italy. As a soloist, he worked with orchestras such as Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orchestre National de Belgique, Radio-Philharmonie Hannover des NDR, Basler Sinfonie-Orchester and Orchester der Beethovenhalle Bonn under conductors like Fabio Luisi, Dennis Russell Davies, Othmar Maga, Eiji Oue or Marc Soustrot. 

Roland Krüger studied with Prof. Oleg Maisenberg and Prof. Karl-Heinz Kämmerling. From 1999 until 2001 he was one of the very few selected students in the class of Krystian Zimerman in Basel, Switzerland. 

His recordings include Debussy’s 12 Études for Ars Musici as well as solo works by Schubert, Janáček and Bartók for paladino music. For naxos he recorded chamber music by Joseph Merk, Hummel’s transcriptions of Mozart-Symphonies and the complete works for Cello and Piano by Carl Reinecke. 

In 2007, Krüger became professor at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media where he is currently the Head of Keyboard and the Head of the Solo performance programme. Many of his students have regularly won prizes, for example in Aarhus, Barletta, Dresden (Anton Rubinstein), Hong Kong, Meiningen (von Bülow), at the “Young Pianists of the North” Competition, in Paris (Ile de France), Sendai, Vevey (Clara Haskil), Vilnius (Čiurlionis) or Zwickau (Schumann). 

Roland Krüger has been conducting master classes in Germany, Austria, Finland, China, Korea, Japan, for example at the Sibelius Academy Helsinki, the Mänttä festival, the Toho Gakuen School in Tokyo, the Fryderyk Chopin University in Warsaw, the UdK in Berlin, the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Lithuanian Music Academy of Vilnius. He is often invited as a jury member of national (Deutscher Musikwettbewerb, Bundeswettbewerb “Jugend musiziert”) and international (Ciurlionis, Tallinn, ZF Friedrichshafen, Grotrian, San Donà di Piave) piano competitions.

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Roberta Bambace

Teaching Languages : Italian, German, English

Teaching Period : July 25 (arrival) - 31 (departure)

 

Pianist Roberta Bambace graduated with top marks and honours with Maestro Nunzio Montanari from the Conservatorio 'C. Monteverdi' in Bolzano, where she was soon appointed principal piano teacher. She then furthered her studies with Maestro Bruno Mezzena, attending courses on 20th century music at the Ticino Musica International Classic - Lugano (CH). 

She attended Masterclasses with Irvin Gage in Florence on vocal chamber singing and the International Vocal Chamber Music Workshop in Conegliano Veneto with Charles Spencer, concentrating in particular on composers such as Vaughan Williams, Aaron Copland, Charles Ives and F. Poulenc. 

Winner of numerous prizes in national and international piano competitions (including Treviso, Senigallia, La Spezia, Cesena, Livorno, Finale Ligure, Enna, Oporto - Portugal and Sopron - Hungary), she has made several recordings for RAI and other foreign radio-television stations (Germany, Austria and Hungary). 

She has also recorded several CDs for the record labels 'Bottega Discantica', 'Odradek Records' and 'Brilliant Classics'. From a very young age, she has performed extensively as a soloist, with orchestras and in chamber ensembles in Italy and abroad, playing in important halls and theatres for renowned associations and international festivals, always receiving wide public and critical acclaim. 

She recently toured with a series of recitals in India: Goa (Institute Menezes Briganza - Panaji), Pune (Mazda Hall - Poona Music Society), Mumbai (Prithvi Theatre and NCPA Experimental Theatre). She is also invited to hold Masterclasses in Italy (Talent Music Master Courses - Brescia, Villa Magni - Pistoia, Piceno Classica - San Benedetto del Tronto), Spain (Conservatorio Superior de Musica in Vigo, Granada, Cordoba, Tenerife), Turkey (Anadolu University - Eskişehir), Romania (Conservatory of Timisoara). 

She currently teaches principal piano at the Conservatorio 'L. Campiani' in Mantua. She is the founder and Artistic Director of the 'Platina International Music Festival' and the 'Platina International Grand Prize' music competition, as well as President of the 'Colere Anima' Cultural Association.

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Rintaro Akamatsu

Teaching Languages : English, Japanese
Teaching Dates : Aug. 16 - 20, 2026

Rintaro Akamatsu began studying the piano and the violin at the age of 2, and the cello at the age of 6. He showed remarkable talent from a very young age. At the age of 5, he made his TV debut, showcasing his skills. By the age of 10, he performed Mozart's concerto with his original cadenza. Since winning the All Japan Student Music Competition in 1990, he has achieved success in several major competitions in Japan.

His first international recognition came in 2000 when he won third prize at the Clara Schumann International Piano Competition, which featured esteemed judges such as Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire. Dr. Joachim Kaiser praised him as "really intelligent and talented" during this achievement.

After graduating from Kobe University, he received unanimous acclaim from the judges who awarded him the Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste for both piano and chamber music at L’Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. He excelled in chamber music, receiving full marks from all the judges. He has studied under renowned musicians such as Mikhail Voskresensky in Tokyo, France Clidat and Jean Micault in Paris, György Nádor and Kocsis Zoltán in Budapest, and Nina Patchett and Christian Ivaldi for chamber music.

He has performed with prestigious orchestras such as the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Royal Metropolitan Orchestra, Royal Chamber Orchestra, Danube Symphony Orchestra, and Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. In addition to performing in major concert halls in Japan, he has showcased his talent in the USA, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Taiwan, and Colombia. His recordings, including "Due Domenico," "Angel del Piazzolla," "And the Bell Tolls," "Hommage a Invention," "Lascia ch'io Pianga," and "Für Clara," released under King International, have received critical acclaim from various magazines.

Moreover, he serves as a jury member for numerous international piano competitions, such as the "Danubia Talents," "Osaka," "Xabia," "Liszt," "Orbetello," "Monegrarte," and "Scandinavian" International Music Competitions. He has been invited to teach master classes in Japan, Asia, and Europe, and has had the privilege of mentoring over 1,000 musicians throughout his career. His guidance and expertise have contributed to the success of many talented individuals, who have emerged as winners in significant domestic and international competitions.

He has also authored numerous works and contributed serials to newspapers and magazines, providing insights into his experiences, knowledge, and perspectives on music. These written contributions showcase his multifaceted presence in the arts.

Currently, Rintaro Akamatsu is Professor of Osaka College of Music, Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, Utsunomiya Junior College, Budapest International Piano Masterclass. The President of the Japan Liszt Piano Academy. An ambassador for Casio.

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Philippe Raskin

      

Teaching Languages 
_ French, Dutch, English, Spanish, German, Italian

Teaching Period

_ July 14 (arrival) - 20 (departure)

Born in Brussels, Philippe Raskin devoted himself to music at a very early age. His performances have been illustrated as a “model of radiant authority (...), solar, generous, committed and under control (MDM, La Libre Belgique) and plays “with an impressive confidence” (JK, Mundo Clasico). 

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Philippe began piano lessons with Aleksandr Friedland, a Russian conductor, and continued working with Bernadette Malter and Loredana Clini. He developed his artistry furthermore with Emanuel Krasovksy, Vincenzo Balzani, Ralf Gothóni, and Leon Fleisher on the piano in addition with Johannes Meissl and Hatto Beyerle for chamber music. 

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At the age of 16, he began studying at the Royal Conservatorium of Brussels in the class of Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden. In the same year, he obtained his first degree with the highest honours. He then joined the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel (still with Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden) and graduated again with the highest honours, receiving the diploma from H.M. the Queen of Belgium. During the same period, he completed his Master's degree at the Royal Conservatorium of Brussels in piano and chamber music. 

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In 2005 he entered the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofia in Madrid where he worked for four years under the tutelage of Dimitri Bashkirov and Claudio Martínez Mehner. As early as the first year, he received from H.M the Queen of Spain the Sobresaliente Prize at the Pardo Palace. In 2010, Philippe started studying at the Strasbourg Conservatory with Amy Lin for a “Diplome de Spécialisation” where he graduated with the highest honours. In 2012 & 2013, he worked with Leonel Morales.

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Philippe has won several national and international competitions, amongst others: the J.S. Bach Competition, the Gretry Rotary Competition, the Paris International Piano Competition, the Lions Club Competition, and the André Dumortier International Piano Competition. In 2012, he became a prizewinner at the Lyon International Piano Competition and won first prize at the “Spanish Composers” International Piano Competition in Madrid. 

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Philippe has performed many recitals, as part of chamber groups and as a soloist with orchestras all over the world - in renowned concert halls such as the Grand Hall of Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Musikverein in Vienna, or at the Philharmonie in Berlin. He was also invited by the Chopin Foundation in Warsaw to perform in the birthplace of the composer. Philippe regularly performs with orchestras, notably the Belgian National Orchestra, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, and the Salzburg Chamber Soloists amongst many others. His chamber music partners include artists such as Clemens Hagen, Jérôme Pernoo, Miguel Da Silva, etc. 

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Philippe also regularly performs contemporary music and has taken part in several world premieres. Many composers have dedicated works to him, including "Stringent & Tremulation" from Belgian composer Jean-Marie Rens, "Piano Sonata" from Turkish composer Serkan Gürkan and "Sonata Der Hunt" from Austrian composer Christoph Ehrenfellner. 

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Philippe is invited each year to be a member of the jury in several international piano competitions including the International “Piano Talents” Competition Milan, the Lyon International Piano Competition and is the artistic director of the César Franck International Piano Competition and the International Music Festival (IMF) Paris. He is also a regular member of the jury at the "MozArte" Competition in Cologne, the "Spanish Composers" Competition in Madrid as well as the Chopin Competition in the United States, the "Cita de Cantu" Competition etc. 

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In 2009, Philippe opened his piano school and also gives many masterclasses in Belgium and abroad. From 2016, Philippe was also the artistic director of the “Resonances Musique de Chambre” Festival in France and began teaching at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Philippe is also a member of the international piano faculty in Brescia and at the International Academy of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

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Pascal Nemirovski

Teaching Language _ English, French, Russian

"... A Prokofiev Seventh Sonata boasting perfect rhythmic quality and remarkable balance between virtuosity and musicality: good blood never lies!"

Jacques Doucelin, LE FIGARO

Pascal Nemirovski is recognized as one of the most sought-after piano pedagogues in the world with many of his students winning top international prizes (Leeds, Busoni, Ettlingen, YCA New York, YCAT London, BBC New Generation Artist…) and many of whom are now successful recording artists represented by major Concert Artist Management companies (Harrison Parrott, Askonas Holt, Intermusica, IMG Artists…). Among them Lise de la Salle, Louis Schwizgebel, Daniel Lebhardt, Mario Mora, Roman Kosyakov, Emanuil Ivanov, Edward Leung, Yi Zhong ...

He studied at the Juilliard School with Nadia Reisenberg and Adele Marcus from 1981 to 1984 on a full scholarship (Steinway & Freundlich Fund). Then he continued his studies in Paris with France Clidat and Alexis Weissenberg and started to give concerts and masterclasses in Europe, the United States and Asia.

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Olivier Moulin

 

Teaching Languages : French, English, German
Teaching Period : August 16 (arrival) - 22 (departure)

Hailed by the Washington Post as a « young artist displaying maturity and elegance », French pianist Olivier Moulin studied under Eric Heidsieck and Gery Moutier at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique of Lyon, where he was unanimously awarded first prize with honors. After advanced studies in the same institution, he continued his training in Austria at the Salzburg Mozarteum in the classes of Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Clemens Hagen, where he obtained a Master of Arts with highest honors. Throughout his studies, he has also benefited from the advices of masters such as Aldo Ciccolini, Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen, Jacques Rouvier, Jean-François Heisser, Sergio Perticaroli…

Prizewinner of international piano competitions, he has been invited to participate in major international festivals : la Roque d’Anthéron, Montpellier and Radio-France, Lille Clef de Soleil, Pianos Folies in Le Touquet, Journées Lyriques in Chartres, Divonne, Sully-sur-Loire, La Vézère, Croisements Festival in China, Virtuosi Festival in Brazil, Festival Internacional de Piano En Blanco y Negro in Mexico, Istanbul’s Lisztomanias, Motley Tulip International Arts Festival in Belarus, Bellapais Music Festival in Cyprus… 

He has performed in prestigious venues in France (Grand Auditorium of Radio-France, Salle Gaveau, Salle Cortot, the Louvre Auditorium, Lyon and Avignon Operas, Cloître des Jacobins in Toulouse, Théâtre des Variétés in Monaco, Arsenal de Metz…), in Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Hungary, Spain, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey…), Asia (Japan, China, South Korea, India, Indonesia…), and the Americas (USA, Brazil, Mexico). His concerts are regularly broadcasted by radio and television in France and abroad. Olivier made in 2014 U.S. debut at the French Embassy in Washington DC, where he played a recital devoted to Rameau, Debussy, Ravel.

He has also collaborated with several orchestras : Orchestre National de Metz, Ensemble Orchestral de Montbéliard, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Wuhan (China), the Camerata de Coahuila (Mexico)… His passion for chamber music has allowed him to share the stage with many artists such as David Guerrier, the Fine Arts Quartet, soloists of the Philharmonic of Radio-France, Bertrand Chamayou, Jérôme Dorival… He was also invited to Geneva and Chartres by Eve Ruggieri to take part in conference/concerts focusing on the life of Frederic Chopin. His first solo CD, devoted to Franz Liszt, was released in october 2011 for the french label AmeSon/Outhere.

Olivier Moulin is Professor of piano at the Nancy Conservatory of Music (France), and President of the Epinal International Piano Competition. He regularly gives masterclasses in Europe, USA, Mexico, Japan, China … and is invited to serve as a member of the jury of many international piano competitions such as : Istanbul, Porto Santa Cecilia, Scriabin in Grosseto, Sviatoslav Richter International Piano Competition…

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Nikolai Demidenko

Teaching Dates : July 25 - 29, 2025

Teaching Languages : English, Spanish, Russian

Authoritative interpretations of over 50 concerti, specifically those of Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, have brought Nikolai Demidenko worldwide recognition and critical acclaim. His passionate, virtuosic performances and musical individuality marked him as one of the most extraordinary pianists of this century. 

Nikolai has worked with many renowned conductors such as Yuri Temirkanov, Sir Roger Norrington, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Charles Dutoit, Sir Andrew Davis, among others. Orchestras with whom he has collaborated include the St Petersburg Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Orquesta Nacional de España, Orchestre National de France and Danish National Symphony Orchestra. In 2016 he became ‘Soloist-in-Residence’ with Queensland Symphony Orchestra. 

In 2019.20 he opened the ORTVE ´s season with his principal conductor Pablo González and concerts with Fort Wayne Philharmonic under Andrew Constantine. He will play recitals in China, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey and Spain. 

A devoted recitalist and chamber musician, Nikolai possesses a unique ability to take a homogenous view of a recital and to pair different contents without ignoring their style. Throughout his longstanding career, Nikolai has given recitals at some of the worlds’ most important venues including the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Konzerthaus Berlin, NCPA in Beijing, Hong Kong City Hall, Melbourne Recital Center and Sydney City Recital Hall. Nikolai is also a frequent guest of major London based venues including the Barbican, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Royal Festival Hall and St. John’s Smith Square. 

Nikolai’s extensive discography consists of nearly 40 CDs. For Hyperion Records he has recorded over 20 albums, including most recently Prokofiev Piano Concertos Nos 2 & 3 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra released in March 2015, Gramophone Editor’s Choice award-winning album of Medtner and Music for two Pianos (with Dmitri Alexeev), Rachmaninov CD awarded BBC Music Magazine Best of The Year and Diapason D’Or, and Scriabin & Tchaikovsky Piano Concertos which won BBC Music Magazine Best of The Year. Nikolai’s Chopin CD released in 2008 for Onyx Classics won the MIDEM 2010 Special Chopin Award for a new recording whilst his Chopin CD for AGPL won the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. 

Russian-born pianist Nikolai Demidenko studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Dmitri Bashkirov. He was one of the winners of the Montreal International Music Competition and the International Tchaikovsky Competition. In 2014, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Surrey in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of Music and the University.

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