Be part of the International Cello Festival in Zutphen!
Learn from cellists from the international stage, take part in performances, enjoy all concerts for free and be part of the festival community.
International Cellofestival Zutphen
From August 27 to 31, the sound of the cello will once again fill the most beautiful places in Zutphen! We are celebrating our 25th anniversary, and this edition offers five full days of surprising programs with over 30 concerts. On August 26 and 27, we’ll warm up with the festival fringe, featuring an open-air concert and public masterclasses.
Our program brings together timeless masterpieces and fresh perspectives – from grand and sweeping to intimate and close-up. As always, our agenda features concerts by both virtuosos and emerging innovators. The Zutphen Cello Festival is a melting pot of mastery and talent – and we’re happy to offer you a place in it!
Here is what you can dive into
2 MASTERCLASSES – a private and public masterclass from 2 different teachers. If you play contemporary cello, you will be assigned to Leonid Gorokhov and Denis Shapovalov. If you play baroque cello, you will have lessons with Paolo Pandolfo by default.
2 PERFORMANCES – during the program, there will be two concerts for special audiences, like the Friends of CelloWercken, which you’ll be part of.
FREE CONCERTS – you can join all festival concerts for free!
PLAY WITH PIANO – you have the the opportunity to play repertoire of your own choice with piano.
NEW CONNECTIONS – you will notice our friendly, small-scale atmosphere, which makes it easy to take part in the festival community.
Develop, perform, and connect
All in one inspiring festival
We welcome cellists with an interest in both contemporary and historically informed performance practice
During the week, you’ll have the opportunity to take masterclasses with cellists who represent both traditions. If you mainly play contemporary repertoire, you’ll be assigned to Leonid Gorokhov and Denis Shapovalov. If your focus is more on baroque, you’ll be sure to have lessons with Paolo Pandolfo.
You can bring your own repertoire
With or without piano
you have the opportunity to play repertoire of your own choice with piano. Please share your repertoire in advance, check out the details >>
Space for individual practice
During your stay in Zutphen, you’ll have access to rehearsal spaces. This allows you to set aside time for individual practice alongside the main programme.
TEACHERS
Denis Shapovalov
Denis Shapovalov is a versatile cellist, conductor, and composer. He graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory under Natalia Shakhovskaya and won the gold medal at the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1994.
Shapovalov performs as a soloist with renowned orchestras and conductors, including the London Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich. He has appeared in prestigious concert halls such as the Musikverein, the Concertgebouw, and the Barbican Hall.
In addition to his performing career, he taught for 12 years at the Moscow State Conservatory and, since 2014, has been the founder and artistic director of the "Cello Travel International Academy," offering masterclasses around the world. Since 2022, he has served as a professor at the Perosi Academy of Music in Italy.
Shapovalov is known for his ability to move effortlessly between classical music and rock, as showcased in his crossover project "Rock vs Rococo." He also composed the "Symphony Fantasy Tchaikovsky–Dvořák: A Letter to a Dearest Friend," which was performed by the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra.
Leonid Gorokhov
The Russian cellist Leonid Gorokhov, praised for his expressive playing and exceptional technique, is often compared to the legendary Emanuel Feuermann. Born in Saint Petersburg (then Leningrad), he began playing the cello at the age of seven. He studied with Anatoli Nikitin at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory and took masterclasses with Daniil Shafran.
Gorokhov has won prestigious awards, including the Grand Prix and First Prize at the Geneva International Competition – the only Russian cellist ever to do so. In 1995, he received the Cultural Achievement Prize from the European Association for Encouragement of the Arts for his outstanding talent.
His breakthrough came in 1991, when he performed as a soloist with the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic under the baton of Lord Yehudi Menuhin. Menuhin became his mentor and invited him to teach at the Yehudi Menuhin School in the United Kingdom. This opened the door to performances with major orchestras and collaborations with Menuhin as both soloist and chamber musician.
He has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. His repertoire ranges from Haydn, Schumann, and Dvořák to Walton and Lutosławski. Gorokhov regularly returns to Russia to perform, including giving the Russian premiere of Nicholas Maw’s Sonata Notturna in Moscow.
In addition to his solo career, he is passionate about chamber music and enjoys working with both young talents and seasoned musicians. Since 2008, he has been a professor at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hanover.
Paolo Pandolfo
For over thirty years, Paolo Pandolfo has been one of the leading soloists on the viola da gamba. His deep love for the instrument has led to an intensive exploration of both its historical and expressive possibilities.
After gaining experience in both jazz and classical music, Pandolfo entered the world of early music around 1979, together with violinist Enrico Gatti and harpsichordist Rinaldo Alessandrini. He studied with Jordi Savall at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and was a member of Hespèrion XX from 1982 to 1990, performing worldwide and making numerous recordings.
His solo career gained momentum in 1990 with the release of the C.P.E. Bach sonatas for viola da gamba. In the same year, he was appointed professor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, where he has since continued the tradition of research and teaching in early music.
Pandolfo has an extensive discography, focusing on solo repertoire for the viola da gamba, including works by Marais, Forqueray, Sainte-Colombe, Hume, Abel, and J.S. Bach. His transcription of Bach’s Six Cello Suites is considered an essential addition to any Bach discography.
His fascination with historical improvisation led to projects such as Improvisando: the Jazz of the 17th Century. He also explores modern compositions, including Travel Notes and Violatango. His recordings have received awards from leading music publications.
Recent projects include Regina Bastarda, a study of virtuosic Italian gamba music around 1600, and A Sentimental Journey, featuring pre-classical sonatas by Carl Friedrich Abel. He also recorded the complete Lyra Viol works of Alfonso Ferrabosco (To the World).
Pandolfo performs and gives masterclasses around the globe. His mission is to build bridges between past and present, blending historical authenticity with spontaneous expression and improvisation.
PIANISTS
Sander Sittig
Press and audiences alike praise Sander Sittig’s poetic and personal piano playing, which has made him an in-demand Dutch pianists. These very qualities have also established him as a chamber musician par excellence, leading prominent artists to invite him to join them on concert tours throughout Europe, the United States, Japan, China, Argentina, and Israel.
He has performed with master violinist Shlomo Mintz in cities including Shanghai, Istanbul, Geneva, and Madrid; with Russian violinist Pavel Berman in Jerusalem; and with Dutch Music Prize winners Liza Ferschtman and Maria Milstein at numerous concerts across the Netherlands, as well as in Brussels, Bratislava, and at festivals in Switzerland and Austria.
Sander Sittig studied with the renowned pedagogue Jan Wijn. During his studies, he was invited to make his debut as a soloist in Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto at De Doelen in Rotterdam, and made recordings for radio and television. He later received awards at the Tromp Competition (Eindhoven), as well as in Épinal, Rome, and Palm Beach.
Hua-Hsuan Lee
As a talented pianist, Hua-Hsuan Lee has been awarded prizes in numerous national and international competitions in her young age, including the first prize of International Cross-Strait International Music Competition(2015), the first prize of International Violin & Piano Competition of Vienna (2011), the first prize of Taiwan Music Competition (2007) , the second prize of Taiwan National Student Competition(2007) and as 3ème Prix à l’unanimité of International Music Competition (2022).
In 2016, while she studied for her master degree with Russian-German pianist Stepan Simonian in Hochschule fur Musik und Theater Hamburg, her unique music talent and soulful playing was discovered by mastro Jeroen den Herder. Following that she has formed the cello/piano duo with Mr. den Herder and has been invited by numerous International festivals giving performances in Spain, Turkey, Netherlands. Since 2020, they have created their own concert series “Den Herder op Zondag”, where the diverse music has been provided to the public. The repertoire amounts virtuoso classical music to contemporary music.
Next to her solo career, Hua-Hsuan Lee has extensive experience working as collaborative pianist with promising musicians and teachers, for instance Leonid Gorokhov, Jakob Koranyi, Gavriel Lipkind, Pieter Wispelwey. Since 2017 she collobrate as pianist in residence of Cellofestival Zutphen for masterclasses and concerts.
Being a highly sensitive and enthusiastic artist, she has an unusual sensation and deep desire of searching for different artistic ways of self-expression. Her curious and challenging heart leads her to CelloWercken, where she can express freely in her unique voice and share her warm heart with people.
Practical matters
Application
- Ask any questions at academy@cellowerckenzutphen.nl.
- Sign up via this form. You’ll be asked to upload a video of approximately 7 minutes to give us an idea of your playing level.
- We will contact you as soon as possible regarding your participation.
- Once you are accepted, we will send you the invoice.
Applications are open until 4 weeks before the starting date.