LUXEMBOURG
Benjamin Kruithof was born in Luxembourg in 1999, into a family of musicians. At the age of 5 he started studying cello at the Conservatoire du Nord with Raju Vidali. In recent years Benjamin studied with Professors Mirel Iancovici (Conservatorium Maastricht), Katharina Deserno (Hfmt Köln) and Maria Kliegel (Hfmt Köln). Since 2017 he is a student of Prof. Jens-Peter Maintz at the University of the Arts in Berlin.
In November 2020 Benjamin won the 1st prize and the audience award at the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam. He is also a prize winner of the Pablo Casals Award in Spain (special award), Gabrielli Competition in Berlin (2nd prize), Anne and Françoise Groben Grand Prix in Luxembourg (1st prize and the audience award), FLAME Competition in Paris (1st prize and special prize), Léopold Bellan International Competition in Paris (1st prize and audience award), and the International Knopf Competition in Düsseldorf (special prize).
Benjamin performed with the Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie Herford, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and performed in prestigious venues such as Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Gasteig in Munich, Kings Place in London, Changsha Concert Hall, Renmin University Hall, Guangzhou Opera House, Luxembourg Philharmonie, Salle Cortot in Paris.
During his career Benjamin has performed with artists such as Conrad van Alphen, Adrian Adlam, Vadym Kholodenko, Alena Baeva, Semion Gavrikov, Pascal Schumacher, Thomas Hell, Florian Krumpöck, Hartmut Haenchen, and Vahan Mardirossian. In February 2020 he recorded his first CD with the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie Herford for the Ars Production label. In 2021 he was invited to take part in the Seiji Ozawa Academy in Switzerland.
Benjamin is currently playing a precious 18th-century instrument made by the Italian violin maker G.B. Guadagnini, which is on loan from the Berlin University of the Arts.
PROGRAM:
Online Round
Popper Etude Op. 73 No. 20
Bach Cello Suite No. 3 in C major BWV 1009
Haydn Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major Hob. VIIb/2
Schubert Arpeggione Sonata in A minor D. 821 (1st movement)
Debussy Cello Sonata in D minor L. 135
Hindemith Sonata for Solo Cello Op. 25 No. 3
Semifinal
Enescu Cello Sonata No. 2 in C major Op. 26
Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor Op. 40
Davydov At the Fountain Op. 20 No. 2
Final
Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor Op. 104
