Informations
Facts
Born in Freiburg i. Breisgau, Germany
Member since 01.04.2004
Biography
Micha Afkham began violin lessons at the age of five. Later, while a violin pupil of László Fogarassy and Roman Nodel, he discovered the viola, and was so taken with its dark, rich tone and its intermediary role between the high and low strings that he began studying the instrument with Hatto Beyerle in Hanover, continuing with Tabea Zimmermann at Berlin’s Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik. He attended masterclasses given by, Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet and Serge Collot, among others.
A prizewinner at renowned competitions and an alumnus of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Karajan Academy, Afkham has received grants from Villa Music of Mainz, the Richard Wagner Association of Hanover and the German Musical Life Foundation (Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben) of Hamburg, which has given him a viola made by Erdesz on loan. Among his chamber-music partners are Tabea Zimmermann, Gidon Kremer and Isabelle Faust. He is a member of the Scharoun Ensemble and the Berlin Piano Quartet. Micha Afkham, who loves the films of Fellini, Truffaut and Louis Malle, enjoys travel and photography, and goes to the theatre as often as possible.
Awards
Multiple prizewinner: “Jugend musiziert”
Prizewinner: International Viola Competition (Bled, Slovenia)
Ensembles of the Berliner Philharmoniker
