MICHELLE DIERX

8 th of September / 19.00
“CRESCENDO CONCERT”
The Crescendo programme begins with the childhood theme illustrated by the thirteen miniature masterpieces that form Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen(“Scenes from Childhood”) for solo piano. Works by the young Johannes Brahms and likewise youthful Sergei Rachmaninov will take us through the stringed fusion on duet and trio territory towards a fresh, newly commissioned quartet composed by our resident artist Pierre Audiger, in its premiere. The programme culminates with a resounding performance of Cesar Franck’s passionate and uncompromisingly mature Piano Quintet in F minor.

Robert Schumann – Kinderszenen op.15
Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Of Foreign Lands and Peoples)
Curiose Geschichte (A Curious Story)
Hasche-Mann (Blind Man’s Buff)
Bittendes Kind (Pleading Child)
Glückes genug (Quite Happy)
Wichtige Bebebenheit (An Important Event)
Träumerei (Dreaming)
Am Camin (At the Fireside)
Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobby-Horse)
Fast zu ernst (Almost too Serious)
Fürchtenmachen (Frightening)
Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)
Der Dichter spricht (The Poet Speaks)
Artist: Graeme McNaught

Johannes Brahms – Scherzo in C minor opus posthume
Artists: Graeme McNaught & Kristine Balanas

Sergey Rachmaninoff – Trio élégiaque no.1 in G minor
One Movement (più vivo – con anima – appassionato – tempo rubato – risoluto)
Artists: McNaught, Kristine Balanas & Alberto Cassadei

Comissioned Piece for Premiere in the Festival
Artists: Pietro Bonfilio, Bogdan Ciobanu, Pierre Audiger, Alberto Cassadei

Cesar Franck– Piano quintet in F minor opus 14

Moltomoderato quasi lento – Allegro
Lentocon molto sentimento
Allegronon troppo ma con fuoco

Artists: Graeme McNaught, Kristine Balaans, Michelle Dierx, Catalina Toma, Alberto Cassadei

ARTIST BIO

Michelle Dierx is a violinist from Zoersel, Belgium.

She was taught by Annemieke Corstens at the Young Musicians Academy at the Conservatory in Tilburg (Netherlands) before she moved to Scotland in 2014. Michelle recently graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she received a Bachelor of Music degree with First Class Honours.

She is currently studying with Gina McCormack and Joseph Swensen.

At the conservatoire, Michelle received the Robert Highgate Scholarship for Violin, the Hilda Anderson Deane Prize and the Mary D Adams Prize for Chamber Music. This year she has had the opportunity to perform as a freelancer in workshops with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, having additionally worked with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Orchestra, Youth Orchestra Amikejo and the Valkenswaard Chamber Orchestra.

Michelle is also an avid chamber musician. She won the Mabel Glover String Quartet Prize with her quartet in 2017 and is also first violin of the Broen Ensemble and Trio Doyenne.

Her trio got Highly Commended in the 2018 Governor’s Recital Prize for Chamber Music and they recently received first place at the 24th Josep Mirabent i Migrans chamber music competition in Sitges (Spain).

As an orchestral musician Michelle has freelanced with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She has also been concertmaster for the RCS Symphony and Chamber Orchestra.