ALEXANDRE FOSTER, Violoncello
The canadian cellist Alexandre Foster has been recognized both for his refined approach to music-making and his high versatility of playing. As a baroque and a modern cellist, he has, over the years, performed with leading artists of both fields in some of the most prestigious halls of Europe.
As a soloist, Alexandre performed a wide range of concertos including: C.P.E. Bach Cello Concerto No.2, L. Boccherini Cello Concerto in B-flat major, J. Haydn Cello Concerto No.1 and No.2, C. Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No.1, A. Dvorak Cello Concerto, Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.2.
A devoted chamber musician, Alexandre Foster is a founding-member of the Calvino Trio, with whom he has played all over the world. The ensemble was awarded the First Prize “Norbert Schenkel”in 2015 at the Jeunesse Musicale Competition (Switzerland) and in 2016 the First Prize “Orpheus” at the Swiss Chamber Music Competition. He also collaborated with artists such as Anton Kernjak, Tobias Schabenberger, Adelina Oprean and Conradin Brotbek. In 2010, he was recognised for the world premiere of the Hermann Keller cello sonata, recorded live by SWR 2 Radio.
On the baroque cello, he is a regular member of the ensemble “Les Passions de l’Ame” in Bern.He has had also the opportunity to perform with renowned specialists such as Els Biesemans, Leila Schayegh, Andrés Gabetta and Kristian Bezuidenhout.
Besides his career as a performer, he is also very much in demand as a teacher. After working more than four years at the StaatlicheHochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart and at the Hochschule der Künstein Bern, he is now teaching at Musikschule Konservatoriumin Bern. He is regularly invited in Masterclasses across Europe (Academia Sighisoara, Talis Academy)
Among his teachers were David Ellis, Thomas Demenga, Conradin Brotbek, Rainer Schmidt, Anton Kernjak, Rita Wagner and Ferenc Rados. He also obtained a Master of Arts in Early Music under the tutelage of Christophe Coin at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.