Viola

Alexander Zemtsov attended the Gnessin Music Lyceum in Moscow, a school for gifted children, where he studied under Prof.. Elena Ozol. After graduating he joined his family in Germany where he studied at the Hochschule fur Musik und Theater in Hamburg with Prof. Marius Nichiteanu. He continued his education with Prof. Michael Kugel in Hoogeschool Maastricht and post graduated from the Hochschule “Hanns Eisler” Berlin in the class of Prof. Tabea Zimmermann.

Zemtsov´s mastery and artistry have been widely recognised internationally and have been brought him numerous prizes: first prize at the International Youth Competition "Classical Legacy" in Moscow in 1995, first prize at the Elise Meyer competition in Hamburg in 1997, and first prize at the 8th Brahms competition in Poertschach, Austria, in 2001.

That year he was also a winner of the "Unge solister" audition in Stavanger, Norway, and of the Tenuto competition in Brussels.

Since the age of 19 Alexander has worked with several European orchestras and in September 2002 was appointed Principal Viola with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alexander is member of the new string ensemble The Hermitage Trio and frequently performing with Razumovsky Ensemble and Aronowitz Ensemble.

As a soloist he has performed with Belgian Radio Orchestra, Konzertverein Orchester Vienna, London Philharmonic Orchestra at the prestigious concert platforms like Tchaikovsky Conservatoire Hall in Moscow, Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall in London and Musikverein Vienna.

His repertoire embraces all the major works for the instrument, and also includes arrangements of virtuoso violin pieces as the "Carmen-Fantasy" (Bizet-Waxman) , “The Last rose of Summer“ by Ernst and others.

In 2004, he played a leading role in the formation of a chamber orchestra comprising members of the LPO with whom he toured in Germany as a soloist.

Since 2003 Alexander been very active as a teacher. He has given international masterclasses throughout Europe as well in Israel, Australia and New Zealand

In 2006 He was appointed a viola professor at the Guildhall School of Music and in 2010 at the Conservatory in Vienna.

Alexander is also executive professor of the new project of the Lions Club the Online MozArt Academy.

Recent solo and chamber music recordings are released on Naxos, Chandos and LPO/Live labels.


March 2011