Tecchler Trio, Trio

Biography

Formed in the autumn of 2003, the Tecchler Trio performs frequently in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, including appearances in the Zurich Tonhalle, the Beethoven Halle in Bonn, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, and at the festivals of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Ludwigsburg. They are currently spending the summer at Ravinia's Steans Institute for Young Artists.

Shortly after they began working together, they won the German Music Competition in Bonn and the Lucerne Festival's Credit Suisse Young Soloists Prize. The trio takes its name from their cellist's instrument, made in 1705 by the Italian violin maker David Tecchler.

Pianist Benjamin Engeli was born in 1978 to a family of musicians, but only began regular piano lessons at age 15. Winner of many awards and scholarships, he has performed throughout Europe as well as in North and South America and India.

Violinist Esther Hoppe, born in Zug, Switzerland, in 1978, studied at the Academy of Music in Basel, The Curtis Institute of Music and London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, also participating in the Steans Institute during the 2001 season. She is studying for her soloist's diploma at the University of Music in Zurich. Winner of Salzburg's 8th International Mozart Competition in 2002, she plays a 1760 Balestrieri violin, thanks to the financial support of the Canton Bank of Zug.

Born in Augsburg, Germany in 1986, Maximilian Hornung received his first cello lessons at age 8 and currently studies with Thomas Grossenbacher at the University of Music in Zurich. Already active as a soloist in Europe and the United States, with numerous radio broadcasts to his credit, he will have many performances during the coming season as winner of the 2005 German Music Competition, including a tour with the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra and a performance at the Menuhin Festival Gstaad.

Photo © Sonja Werner