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At the age of 12, Folke Nauta (1973) was admitted to the preliminary programme for exceptionally gifted students at the Conservatory of Zwolle (the Netherlands), where his teacher was Rudy de Heus. He subsequently studied with Jan Wijn at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he graduated with the highest distinction in 1997. |
| Folke Nauta was prize winner at several national and international piano competitions. In 1992, as the youngest participant, he won |
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| the 2nd prize at the Queen Sonja International Music Competition in Oslo, Norway. A national breakthrough followed in 1994, when he won both 1st prize and the Dutch Press Prize at the Scheveningen International Music Competition. |
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In 1995, Folke Nauta was awarded the Philip Morris Art Prize giving him the opportunity to record a solo CD and continue his studies with Eugen Indjic in Paris. One year later, Folke Nauta received the Elisabeth Everts Prize for young, very promising musicians. |
| photo: Philip Morris Art Prize |
| Meanwhile, Folke Nauta has recorded several CD’s featuring (a.o.) Polonaises by Chopin, works by Schubert, and three previously un-recorded Piano Concertos by the Dutch Romantic composer Julius Röntgen (with the Eastern Netherlands Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jurjen Hempel). |
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| During a nationwide tour with the Dutch Students Orchestra and conductor Roland Kieft in 1995, he premiered the First Piano Concerto by Willem Jeths, a piece which was dedicated to him. A CD recording of this work followed in 1999, with the Noordhollands Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Thierry Fischer. |
| Folke - 9 years old |
| Grieg/Röntgen-recital in the concert hall at Troldhaugen, Bergen, Norway (2002) |
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The repertoire of Folke Nauta is built around the great works of the Romantic composers, but reaches from Bach to contemporary music. In his concert programmes, he likes to combine the standard repertoire with less well-known compositions. |
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Folke Nauta has played as a solo pianist at all major concert halls in the Netherlands, as well as in Great Britain, Germany, France and Norway, among other countries. He is, additionally, an experienced chamber music player. |
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Within the framework of the international “Rising Stars”-tour in the 1999-2000 season, he performed in a duo with violinist Janine Jansen, playing at some of the major concert halls in Europe and making their début at New York's renowned Carnegie Hall. |
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Folke Nauta also appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dutch Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Noordhollands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta. On those occasions, he cooperated with conductors such as Yoav Talmi, Lev Markiz, Lawrence Renes, Lucas Vis, Ernst van Tiel, Gianandrea Noseda and Alexander Liebreich. |
| photo: Carnegie Hall |
