Sander Geerts

Violist Sander Geerts was born in Belgium in 1981 and began playing viola at the age of eight. In 1999, he was a laureate of the Belfius Classics competition. Afterwards, he studied with Leo De Neve at the Conservatory of Antwerp and with Michael Kugel at the Conservatory of Maastricht. He specialized with Ervin Schiffer, Bruno Giuranna, Nobuko Imai, Hartmut Rohde and Yuri Bashmet.

In 2006, Sander Geerts was prize winner at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition in the UK and received the first prize at the Schlern International Competition in Italy in 2011. He has been soloing with various ensembles and orchestras, including the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonie Baden-Baden, the Hermes Ensemble and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a member of the Kryptos Quartet. Since 2008, he is principal viola of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

As a chamber musician, Sander Geerts forms Duo Agineko together with pianist Yasuko Takahashi. They won several prizes at international competitions, such as the International Competition of Young Performers in Madeira (Portugal), the Young Musician International Competition for Chamber Music in Barletta (Italy) and the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach (Austria). They recorded two CDs with Etcetera Records.

In 2018, Sander Geerts and clarinet player Roeland Hendrikx recorded a CD with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

Media:
Duo Agineko performing Sonata KV 304 (viola version) by Mozart
Source: YouTube
Duo Agineko performing Benda's Grave and Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata
Source: YouTube