May 12, 2021
EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
Violinist Lea Hausmann, cellist Samuel Shepherd, and pianist Mengjie Han of the Amatis Piano Trio join us to chat about scoping out chamber partners at international competitions, navigating multiple nationalities in one small ensemble, using the internet to cultivate and sustain audiences on the way to securing concerts each season, stimulating artistic growth with dialogue between performers and composers, developing innovative cross-genre and interdisciplinary projects, and the importance of reconnecting listeners with the lost wonder of youth and the human aspect of music.
ABOUT AMATIS TRIO:
The Amatis Piano Trio was founded in 2014 by German violinist Lea Hausmann, British cellist Samuel Shepherd, and Dutch/Chinese pianist Mengjie Han. The three musicians met in Amsterdam, and have performed together in 33 countries around the world. The piano trio is one of the leading ensembles of its generation, exalted worldwide for their energy, insight, communication and passion.
Only weeks after their formation the trio won the Audience Prize at the Grachtenfestival-Concours hosted by the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and First Prize at the International Parkhouse Award at Wigmore Hall in London, both venues that now invite them as regular artists. The 2018-19 season saw the trio selected as ECHO Rising Stars (European Concert Hall Organisation). From 2016 to 2018, the Amatis Trio was part of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists and in 2018 they were invited to participate in the Verbier Festival Academy in Switzerland.
Amatis Trio released their debut CD on cAVI Records featuring the music of Enescu, Ravel and Britten. The disc received high praise amongst critics and earned the ensemble's inclusion in the Gramophone Magazine's 'One to Watch'.
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