JURY
President of Jury PETRU IUGA - Romania/Germany/Swiss
The Romanian double bassist Petru Iuga is one of the most successful classical musicians of his generation. During his musical training in his homeland, the 20-year-old student came to the attention of Yehudi Menuhin and Alberto Lysy , who enlisted him for the International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad (Switzerland). After continuing his studies at the Hochschule der Künste in Bern and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, he became a member of the Ensem-ble Orchestral de Paris (Orchestre de Chambre de Paris) and first double bass with the Munich Chamber Orchestra. Petru Iuga has won numerous prizes at renowned double bass competitions, including first prize at the 1999 International Instrumental Competition in Markneukirchen and in 2001 another first at the International Double Bass Festival in Cap Breton (France).Since then, he has been pursuing a worldwide concert career and makes guest appearances as a soloist with leading European orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra. Petru Iuga is professor for double bass at the Staatliche Musikhochschule und Darstellende Kunst in Mannheim and also teaches part-time at the Haut Ecole de Musique de Lausanne, Switzerland.He regularly stages master classes all over the world in which he discovers and encourages numerous talented young double bass players. In recent years alone he has given master classes a.o. in Russia, Italy, Portugal, Israel, Japan, Uruguay, China and Canada, where he has held a guest professorship at the renowned Orford Master Classes since 2017 until 2019. He has made several CDs as a chamber musician and he regularly gives concerts with famous fellow musicians. In 2009 he recorded a CD with the Carmina Quartet. His invention, Ergo Bass, a knee support for double bassists that facilitates an ergonomic and healthier playing position, is used world wide by many musicians.
ARTEM CHIRKOV - Russia/Austria
The winner if the inaugural Bradetich International Competition, Artem Chirkov is principal double bassist of the St.Petersburg Philharmonic orchestra (St.Petersburg/Russia). He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. He began to study cello at the Special Music Lyceum of the St. Petersburg Conservatory and at the age of 16 started to learn Double Bass, continuing at the St. Petersburg Conservatory by A.Shilo and Riza Gimaletdonov.
Mr. Chirkov continued his postgraduate studies at the “Hochschule fur Music und Theater” in Munich, Germany with Professor Klaus Trumpf. Artem is a First prize winner at the International competition “Virtuosi 2000″ in St. Petersburg and International Competition in Toliatti (Russia), International Double Bass competition “J.M Sperger” Michaelstein (Gerrnany), International Double Bass competition in Brno (Czech Republic), and the 2nd prize winner in International Double Bass competition of the International Society of Bass (Virginia /USA). He’s the winner of the inaugural Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Solo Competition (Texas/USA).
Holder of Principal Bass positions in numerous ensembles, including St. Petersburg Camerata under conductor S.Sondeckis, in 2004, Artem became the youngest Principal Double Bass in history of St. Petersburg Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Evgeny Mravinsky’s famed “Leningrad Philharmonic” orchestra), a position which he continues to hold under its current Principal conductor Yuri Temirkanov.
Mr.Chirkov has given master classes in conservatories and universities of Japan (Tokyo), Taiwan (Taipei), Korea (Seoul), USA (Mannes School-New York, USC-Los Angeles, California Institute of Music San Diego), Mozambique (Maputo), Portugal (Lissbon, Porto), Germany (Osnabruck, Munich),Brazil(Curitiba) and in Russia (St.Petersburg, Moskow, Irkutsk, Khanti-Mansiysk).
Mr. Chirkov performed solo at “Pablo Casals” festivals in Prades (France) and Puerto-Rico, San Juan with St. Petersburg Camerata, International Double Bass week “Zmok Wojnowice”(Poland), “Yehudi Menuhin Society” in Munich, International Music Festival “Oleg Kagan” in Kreuth, Coburg Music Festival (Germany), Music Festival in Viana do Castelo (Portugal), “Maputo Music Festival” (Mozambique), Bass2010 (Berlin,Germany iPalpiti (Los Angeles-Beverly Hills,USA) and soloed with the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra and Prague Chamber Orchestra in Czech Republic, Swerin Philharmonic Orchestra (Germany), Viana do Castelo Festival Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra (Serbia), and with St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. As a member of the famous „Bassiona Amorosa” he was part of the iPalpiti festival in 2006 and tours internationally.
MARIA CHIROKOLIYSKA - Bulgaria/France
Introduced to music by her maternal grandfather, an amateur musician and painter, Maria began playing the guitar at the age of 4. She discovered the double bass at 9 with Dimitar Petrov and entered the music school in her hometown of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), where she studied piano in parallel and won the “Z. Manolov” award for the best student of her class. In 1994, she also won first prize at the National Young Talents Competition in Sofia.
In 1995, she continued her studies in Sofia at the „Pantcho Wladigerov“ Higher Conservatory under N. Nikolov and won the 1st Prize at the International Competition „Svetoslav Obretenov.“ She was awarded a music scholarship in 1998 by the Bulgarian foundation „Otvoreno Obstestvo,“ and then, for two consecutive years in 1999 and 2000, a scholarship from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) granted to foreign students, which allowed her to further her studies in Germany.
In 1999, she was admitted to the „Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst“ in Frankfurt, where she refined her skills with Professor G. Klaus and graduated in 2004 with a „Master of Arts“ with honors, while also participating in various masterclasses with David Walter, Thomas Martin, and Antonio Garcia Araque.
These brilliant studies led Maria on the path to an exceptional musical career. Noticed in 1996 by the director of the Schleswig-Holstein festival (Germany) during an audition in Bulgaria, she traveled the world and gained solid experience as an orchestral musician with the young musicians of the „Philharmonie der Nationen.“
Among the achievements of her young musical career, two stand out: the Special Prize awarded at the first edition of the international J.M. Sperger competition in Woldzegarten (Germany) in 2000, and the 1st Prize as well as the Special Prize for „the best interpretation of a contemporary piece“ at the prestigious Giovanni Bottesini International Double Bass Competition in Crema (Italy) in 2003.
Having successively been a member of the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra (2001) and 2nd solo double bass of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (2001-2008), she was appointed in 2007 as the solo double bass of the Orchestre National de France. Meanwhile, Maria served as solo double bass for „Dissonances“ and „European Camerata“ (2008-2016).
Throughout these years, Maria had the privilege of playing under the direction of great conductors such as R. Muti, D. Gatti, K. Masur, B. Haitink, S. Ozawa, Sir C. Davis, Sir J.E. Gardiner, S. Bychkov, C. Eschenbach, Y. Nézet-Séguin, A. Nelsons, and E. Krivine, as well as with renowned artists like M. Argerich, J.Y. Thibaudet, A. Kantorow, J. Bell, A.S. Mutter, R. Fleming, or J. Jansen.
Additionally, Maria participates in numerous chamber music festivals (Prades, Festival de l’Emperi, Penderecki Festival, Clos Vougeot…) with the Prazak Quartet, Modigliani Quartet, Moragues Quintet, Ardeo Quartet, Storioni Trio, R. Capuçon, E. Darvarova, E. Pahud, A. Laloum, M.J. Jude, N. Dessay, O. Gaillard, F. Braley, D. Kashimoto, P. Meyer.
She also performs as a soloist, notably with the Orchestre National de France for Nino Rota’s concerto under the direction of G. Guimeno.
On the recording side, Maria has recorded the Piano Trio for cello and double bass by Lazar Nikolov (world premiere in 2002), the Octet for string quintet, clarinet, horn, and bassoon by Isang Yun (2011), and Mozart’s Gran Partita with the soloists of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (2022).
Maria has always been passionate about teaching, driven by her desire to share her rich experience with future musicians. In addition to the classes she teaches as a double bass professor at the École Normale de Musique in Paris since 2017, Maria gives masterclasses in Europe, notably in 2022 at MUK Wien (Austria), HfM Hanns Eisler Berlin (Germany), as well as at the National Academy of Music in Sofia (Bulgaria) and in Asia in 2025 at Kookmin University (South Korea).
Since 2013, Maria has been invited by Maestro R. Muti to the selection juries for the youth orchestra „Luigi Cherubini.“ In September 2016, she was on the jury for double bass at the prestigious ARD International Competition in Munich and in September 2019, she served on the jury for the Bottesini competition where she gave a recital.
Since 2007, Maria has been the solo double bass of the Orchestre National de France. She plays a double bass by John Frederick Lott made in the UK in 1830.
MIROSLAV GAJDOS - Czech Republic
Having begun by the violin, Gajdoš took bass lessons in Kroměříž with Alois Kříž, with Jiří Bortlíček in Brno, and with Ludwig Streicher. Between 1968 and 1972, he also studied composition with Zdeněk Zouhar. He was a prize winner at the International Double Bass Competition in Markneukirchen.
During his studies, Gajdoš played bass in the theater orchestra of Brno, where later he performed as a soloist. He played with the Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc, the Czech premiere of Giovanni Bottesini’s First Double Bass Concerto, from which Gajdoš undertook, from the 1990s, several concert tours in the US and made his mark as one of the greatest bass virtuosos of the 20th century.
Since 1973, Gajdoš has been the Professor at the Conservatory of Kroměříž. He later taught, among others, in Moscow, Debrecen, Miskolc, Munich, Dresden, and Berlin and gave master classes in 1997 at New York’s Juilliard School. His pupils included Radomír Žalud, Miloslav Bubeníček, Roman Koudelka, Radoslav Šašina, Miloslav Jelínek, Pavel Klečka, Martin Šranko, Eva Šašinková, Luděk Zakopal, Miloslav Raisigl, Petr Ries, and Jan Staněk.
Gajdoš edited more than 70 works for the double bass. He also composed sacred music works for solo double bass, several basses (from duo to quintet) for double bass and piano, as well as for double bass and orchestra. He also made his mark as a choral and orchestral conductor.
HOU JUN-XIA - China
Professor at the China Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing, China); President of the Chinese Double Bass Society; Artistic Director of the Beijing International Double Bass Festival.
Published Double Bass Performance Method, composed numerous Chinese works for double bass, and released the world’s first double bass Chinese works album Charm of the Double Bass. As Chief Editor, published the orchestral instruments Collection of Chinese Works and the Orchestral Instrument Series Textbook for Higher Art Academies in China, with multiple works receiving national-level awards from the Chinese government.
Formerly served as:
• Director of the Faculty of Orchestral Instruments Studies, China Conservatory of Music
• Dean of the Orchestra Academy, China Conservatory of Music
THOMAS MARTIN - United Kingdom
Thomas Martin is one of the world’s best-known bassists who studied in America under Harold Roberts, Oscar Zimmerman, and Roger Scott. He has held prominent positions with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras, as well as Principal bassist with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Recently, Martin has focused on solo performances, appearing in recitals and concertos globally. His recordings of Giovanni Bottesini’s music have received critical acclaim.
He served as a senior professor of double bass at the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal College of Music in London. Additionally, he studied violin making with Andrew Dipper and created 166 double basses before founding Thomas and George Martin Violin Makers with his son in 2008.
ROMAN PATKOLO - Slowakia/Switzerland
He Studied at the Sillein Conservatory with Prof. Jan Krigovsky
– 1998-2005 – Studied at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts with Prof. Klaus Trumpf
– 1999-2011 – Scholarship holder of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation
– Professor at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts
– Deputy principal double bass at the Zurich Opera House
– Member of Mutter’s Virtuosi Ensemble
– Member of Bassiona Amorosa Ensemble under the direction of Prof. Klaus Trumpf
– Since 2009, he has held a professorship at the Basel University of Music
Prizes and awards (over 20): including:
1st prize at the J.M. Sperger Competition and the ISB Double Bass Competition.
-City of Toronto International Glenn Gould Protege Prize, recommended by Sir André Previn
-Opus Klassik Prize in the category: Instrumentalist of the Year 2018
Solo and duo concerts with A.S. Mutter in Europe, America, and Asia:
-in concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Musikverein, and others
-with orchestras such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, the Czech and Slovak Philharmonics, and the London Symphony Orchestra, among others
Thanks to A.S. Mutter, new works for violin and double bass by prominent contemporary composers such as K. Penderecki, S. Currier, W. Rihm, and A. Previn have been created, which Roman has premiered together with A.S. Mutter. Roman continues to devote himself to the premieres of works (more than 30) by modern composers such as G. Gelgotas, S. Bodorova, and others. In the 2024/2025 season, he was Artist in Residence at the Thuringia Philharmonic.
JOEL QUARRINGTON - Canada
In December 2023, Joel was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his contribution to the musical life of the country and to theinternational scene. For over forty years, Joel Quarrington has beenprincipal bass of numerous orchestras including the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Center Orchestra of Canada, as well as the famous London Symphony Orchestra.
Born in Toronto, Joel began his double bass studies at the age of thirteen. At the end of these, he won the prize of the Radio-Canada Competition as well as the prestigious Geneva Comptition.
A dedicated teacher, Joel teaches at the Montreal Conservatory of Music, and is appointed “Visiting Professor” teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In addition to his activities as a guest teacher in numerous schools around the world, Joël gives master classes at Orford Musique.
Joel Quarrington has recorded numerous albums as a soloist, some of which have won Juno and Opus Awards. The International Society of Bassists awarded him special awards recognizing his outstanding performances as a soloist and orchestral musician.
Joel plays a bass by Italian master Santo Paolo Maggini dating from 1660.
CATALIN ROTARU - Romania/United States
Catalin Rotaru, double bass, joined the School of Music at Arizona State University, in 2005. Mr. Rotaru is in demand as a performer and clinician throughout the world. He is a graduate of the National University of Music from Bucharest, Romania and holds a Master’s degree in music performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Previously he was Associate Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, taught at Millikin University and at the University of Illinois at Urbana –Champaign. He served as associate principal bass in the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, principal bass in the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra, Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra of Bucharest, associate principal and principal bass in Sinfonia Da Camera, and principal bass of the Orchestra Sinfonica Europea. He received the second prize at the 1997 International Society of Bassists Solo Division Competition and the Jury’s Special Award for the best performance of the required piece at that competition. He was the winner of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Debut Recital Award in 1997, the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters Award in 1996 and in 2013, was honored with the “Recognition award for Solo Performance” by the International Society of Bassists. Mr.
Rotaru’s debut solo CD, entitled “Bass*ic Cello Notes” was released by Summit Records in March 2007 and in 2010 released his second CD entitled “Juliana D’Agostini + Catalin Rotaru” which was recorded in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2012 Mr. Rotaru recorded his third CD, in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay, which includes the world premiere of a double bass performance of the famous violin concerto no. 5 by W.A. Mozart and in 2014 he released a special CD/DVD package with works by Frank Proto which includes the world premiere recording of Proto’s Sonata no. 2 dedicated to him. In 2017 Mr. Rotaru had the great honor of recording a world premiere historical CD entitled “The Lord of the Basses – Bottesini’s Testore” performing on Bottesini’s double bass made by Testore in 1716 and in the same year he released another CD album entitled “Sonic Bridges vol. II” recorded with the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay. This album includes a few world premiere works dedicated to him as well as the first rendition of Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante” where the solo viola part is played on double bass. More recently, in 2018, he releases his 7th CD album recorded in Italy featuring two prominent sonatas from the violin and cello repertoire. Professor Rotaru has been a frequent solo performer as recitalist or guest soloist with numerous symphony orchestras and gave master classes at many prestigious institutions and festivals in United States, Asia, Europe and South America. Mr. Rotaru performs on a modern instrument made in Italy by Luciano Golia and a bow made by Marco Pasquino, and is a Pirastro Strings endorsing artist.