Markus Schirmer
After intense studies with Rudolf Kehrer, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Paul Badura-Skoda the Graz born artist went on to win numerous prizes and honours and to take a number of major concert halls and festivals by storm. No matter where he tours he receives audience acclaim for his charismatic musicianship and his ability to tell vivid stories with the instrument.
His love affair with the unusual, his daring and his eagerness to explore new territories ensure the development of sensational events outside the traditional classical repertoire: Scurdia is an improvisation project which brings together extraordinary musicians from all over the world. Markus Schirmer also has great pleasure in working with actors, combining literature and music. For his exceptional artistic diversity Markus Schirmer was awarded the “Music Manual Award“ at the Euromusic International Music Convention, and is a recipient of one of Austria’s most prestigious awards, the Karl Böhm Interpretation Prize.
He received the German Record Critics’ Award for his debut CD of Schubert Sonatas.
All further strongly acclaimed recordings including works by Haydn, Beethoven, Ravel, Mussorgsky and “THE MOZART SESSIONS” have won several international prizes.
In addition to his work as a very successful Professor of Piano at the Music University in his hometown Graz – many of his students are acclaimed prizewinners - Markus Schirmer regularly gives international masterclasses for piano and is a sought after adjudicator at several prestigious piano competitions. Furthermore Markus Schirmer is the artistic director of the annual international music festival ARSONORE, which every September engages top chamber musicians to perform in the Hall of Planets at Eggenberg Castle (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) in Graz.
Markus Schirmer is part of the PIANALE professor team since 2017.
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