German-Brazilian, Nicolas comes from a traditional family of violinists in Munich. At the age of five, he received his first violin, and at sixteen, he began his academic studies at the University of Music in Wuerzburg with Prof. Grigori Zhislin. In 1998, he continued his studies at the University of Music in Cologne with the world-renowned violinist and pedagogue Prof. Zakhar Bron, where he received his Artistic Diploma in 2005 and graduated in 2007.
In 2001, Nicolas received the first prize at the International Violinists Competition in Novosibirsk, Russia, the Cultural Award of the City, and the Special Prize for the best performance of a compulsory piece. In 2002, he became the first German violinist to win one of the top prizes at the renowned Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow and was appointed Artist of the Bavarian Government Department.
In 2003, Nicolas became one of the winners at the International Competition in Montreal and also won the second prize at the Liana Issakadze International Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia.
As a soloist, Nicolas Koeckert has performed in Asia, Europe, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada. He has shared the stage with conductors such as Lawrence Foster, Sir Colin Davis, Jonathan Nott, Asher Fisch, Saulius Sondeckis, Christoph Poppen, Theodor Guschlbauer, Andris Nelsons, Emil Tabakov, Justus Frantz, Ari Rasilainen, Ira Levin, and Nicholas Milton. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the Russian National Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the KBS Symphony Orchestra, the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, the USP Symphony Orchestra, the Brasília National Theatre Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the Georgian Chamber Orchestra, and the Munich Chamber Orchestra.
For Bavarian Radio, the violinist has produced several recordings, including "Ballade," Eugène Ysaÿe's Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3, Edward Grieg's Sonata in C minor, Maurice Ravel's Sonata, Tchaikovsky's Valse-Scherzo Op. 34 and Melody Op. 42 No. 3, Bartók's Sonata, Antonio Bazzini's "Dance of the Goblins," Sibelius' Violin Concerto, and Szymanowsky's second concerto.
He has recorded the following CDs:
NAXOS. Russian-Slavonic pieces by Fritz Kreisler. It was twice voted "CD of the Month," in 2006 by Strad Magazine and in 2005 by Naxos.
NAXOS. Frolov & Dybenko - Concert Fantasy on themes from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Divertissement, Romance, Spanish Fantasy. January 2008.
Concerto for Violin and Konzertrhapsoky by Katchaturian with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London and conductor Jose Serebrier. Released in May 2009.
Works from Ernest Chausson, Paul Dukas, Jacques Offenbach, and Camille Saint-Saens with the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, conducted by Christoph Poppen. Live recordings from December 2008 (SWR).
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
01311-000