GERMANY
Darius Preuß was born in 2004 and started playing the violin at the age of 4 at the music school in Herne, under Yeling Yuan. He continued his education under Benjamín Ramírez in Cologne and finally, at the age of 11, started studying at the Pre College of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, with Prof. Ute Hasenauer.
He won several first prizes at the Jugend Musiziert (regional, state, and national level), Radda International Violin Competition, Lions Music Prize, Concorso Internazionale di Musica Città di Stresa in Italy, Concours FLAME in Paris, and also received a special award at the Hamburg Instrumental Competition. In 2019 he was chosen to join the National Youth Orchestra of Germany.
Darius performed as a soloist with the Herne Symphony Orchestra, Jugendsinfonieorchester Bochum, Camerata Louis Spohr, and the New Philharmonic Westphalia. In September 2016, he was invited to play at the Bellevue Palace in front of Joachim Gauck, the then President of Germany. He performed at the Kölner Philharmonie, the Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr, and the Laeiszhalle Hamburg. He made his international debut in 2018 with a concert tour through Italy and Switzerland, returning to Italy once again in 2019.
He participated in masterclasses with Patinka Kopec, Arabella Steinbacher and Zakhar Bron.
Darius Preuß plays an 18th century violin built by Antonio Gragnani, provided to him by a private sponsor on a long-term basis.
PROGRAM
Online Round
Bach Grave and Fugue from Sonata in A minor for Solo Violin
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major K. 211
Schubert Sonatina No. 3 in G minor D. 408
Enescu “Ménétrier” from Impressions d’enfance Suite Op. 28
Paganini Caprice No. 5
Semifinal
Brahms Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor Op. 108
Enescu Sonata No. 2 in F minor for Violin and Piano Op. 6
Waxman Carmen Fantasy
Final
Brahms Violin Concerto in D major Op. 77
