Born in 1982, Julian Steckel is among the most eagerly sought and versatile musicians of his generation. In 2010 he won first prize at the 59th International ARD Music Competition in Munich and was also awarded the audience prize for his fascinating interpretation of Dvorak's Cello Concerto. He studied with Ulrich Voss, Gustav Rivinius, Boris Pergamenschikow, Heinrich Schiff and Antje Weithaas. He became a laureate of the Rostropovitch Competition in Paris, the Grand Prix Feuermann in Berlin, the International Casals Competition in Kronberg, the International Lutoslawski Competition in Warsaw and was awarded the Verbier Festival Prize and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship in 2007. Julian Steckel appeared as a soloist with Orchestre de Paris, Radio Symphony Orchestras of Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Saarbrucken, Copenhagen and Warsaw, Kremerata Baltica, Franz-Liszt Chamber Orchestra and Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Sir Roger Norrington, Christopher Hogwood, Heinrich Schiff, Yuri Simonov and Michael Sanderling. A passionate chamber musician, Julian Steckel has performed with Lars Vogt, Christian Tetzlaff, Alexander Lonquich, Hyeyoon Park and with the string quartets Ebène, Vogler, Guarneri and Talich. He has been invited by many international festivals such as Lucerne, Ludwigsburg, Schwetzingen, Zermatt, Progetto Martha Argerich. Performances as a soloist and chamber musician brought him onto the stages of the Philharmonie Berlin, Konzerthaus Berlin, the Herkulessaal and the Philharmonie im Gasteig in Munich, the Laieszhalle in Hamburg, the Salle Pleyel and the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, the Tonhalle in Zurich and the Seoul Arts Center. His recording of the cello concertos by Goldschmidt and Korngold, as well as Bloch’s Schelomo, together with Rheinische Philharmonic Orchestra Koblenz/Daniel Raiskin released in 2011 by the label AVI Music, has received unanimous praise from the international music press. The previous successful album (2009) including all Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s works for cello and piano with his duo partner Paul Rivinius, was followed in September 2011 by a CD with works by French composers.
Last updated: January 2012
Photograph taken by Marco Borggreve
BBT Project: Korngold, Bloch, Goldschmidt concertos CD with Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie / Daniel Raiskin on Avi-Service for music
"...compelling recording…Steckel plays each with touching sensitivity. While Korngold beguiles, and Bloch challenges, the standout piece is Goldschmidt’s in a zestful performance."
Yorkshire Post 10 June 2011
"Steckel understands the work [Goldschmidt Cello Concerto] better than any soloist I have heard... Not to be missed."
Norman Lebrecht, La Scena Musicale 30 May 2011
“What impresses and indeed thrills me about Steckel’s playing is the range of colour and emotion he finds in this trio of rather wonderful scores... Here on a single disc we have the finest version of the Korngold and performances of major works by Bloch and Goldschmidt more than equal to any other. Julian Steckel – remember that name – Bravo!””
Nick Barnard, Music Web-International July 2011
I am deeply grateful and feel very much honoured to be chosen for a Borletti Buitoni Trust Fellowship. In these days of thousand and one competitions the Borletti Buitoni Trust stands as an exception because it really cares for its candidates in a way which I have never experienced before. The foundation's support enables me to think further than I could do before and helps to make some of my dreams come real - it gives me new ideas, new inspiration and artistic freedom. Therefore I want to say thank you very much for all of your support!