Radio 3 - New Generation Artists

ATOS Trio (2009-2011)

ATOS Trio

Biography

Annette von Hehn, violin
Thomas Hoppe, piano
Stefan Heinemeyer, cello

Winner of the 5th Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2007 and the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award 2007

The ATOS Trio has rapidly developed a strong reputation as one of the finest young chamber ensembles performing today. Formed in 2003 by violinist Annette von Hehn, cellist Stefan Heinemeyer and pianist Thomas Hoppe, the ATOS Trio has since played recitals to high acclaim by both critics and audiences alike. The Ruhr Nachrichten wrote: "The sound of the ATOS Trio is addictive - World class level playing", and the ensemble has been praised for their warmth of sound, their commitment to a wide-ranging repertoire and their uncomplicated approach to fine interpretations and engaging performances.

Winners of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award 2007, the most important distinction for piano trios in the United States, the ATOS Trio plays concerts throughout Europe, in Australia, North and South America. It has appeared at prestigious concert series and performs at festivals such as the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, the Festival Mitte Europa as well as the Bemus Festival Belgrad. The trio has performed Beethovenīs Triple Concerto with the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orquestra Sinfonica de Chile and the Bonn Academic Orchestra.

In 2007, the trio won 1st Prize, Grand Prize, the Musica Viva Tour Prize and the Audience Prize at the 5th Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. Never before in the history of this competiton (which is held only every four years), has a single ensemble garnered this many honours. The Trio was also named First Prize Winner at the International Competition Schubert and the Music of Modern Times 2006 in Graz, Austria, where they were also awarded the prize for the best interpretation of a work by Schubert. Grand Prize Winners at the Deutsche Musik Wettbewerb in 2004, one of the most important chamber music competitions of Germany, the ATOS Trio was invited to be part of the Konzerte junger Kuenstler - concerts of young artists, under whose management they remained throughout the season of 2005/06 and performed as many as 50 recitals. Their debut CD with works by Beethoven, Brahms and Leon Kirchner was released in 2005, and a documentary about the trio was produced by German TV station SWR. The second CD with the complete trios by H.v. Herzogenberg was published in early 2008 and sold out the first edition during the first month of its release. In the same year they recorded a CD with works by Beethoven, Schubert and Schumann for the American label Azica. In 2010 the German label CPO will release two CDs with works by Mendelssohn and the Czech composer Josef Suk.

Shortly after its first rehearsals, the ATOS Trio became a prizewinner at the 2003 Brahms International Competition in Austria, and was awarded the prize of audience favorite as well. Subsequently, they performed in the opening concert of the Internationales Kammermusik Festival at the University of Arts Berlin (UdK), at the Young Artist Recital Series in Kiel, and played recitals in New York City and Philadelphia.

From its inception, the ATOS Trio received instruction from Professor Ilan Gronich (University of Arts, Berlin), studied for two years with the Alban Berg Quartet (Hochschule Cologne) and performed in masterclass for Menahem Pressler (Beaux Arts Trio). For the upcoming seasons the ATOS Trio is invited to perform at venues such as London's Wigmore Hall, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Frankfurt's Alte Oper, New York's Carnegie Hall and the Schwetzinger Festspiele. Several tours of the USA are planned for the next seasons, and a tour of Australia and New Zealand under the auspices of Musica Viva Australia is scheduled for 2010.

Meet the Artists