Rudolf Koelman, born in Amsterdam in 1959, is a violinist and pedagogue who holds a lifetime chair at the Zurich University of the Arts. Throughout his career, he has balanced an extensive international performance schedule with academic appointments in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, while building a significant discography that includes a notable live recording of all 24 Paganini Capricci.
Early Education and Training
Koelman received his initial musical training in Amsterdam, studying with Jan Bor and Herman Krebbers. At age 18, he moved to Los Angeles on a full scholarship to study at the USC Thornton School of Music under the guidance of Jascha Heifetz. This period established his technical foundation in violin performance.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Academic Appointments
His teaching career began in Austria, where he served as a professor for violin and chamber music at the Landeskonservatorium für Vorarlberg in Bregenz and Feldkirch from 1984 to 1989. In 1987, he began his long-term tenure at the Zurich University of the Arts, where he continues to teach and leads the ZHdK Strings chamber orchestra. Between 2000 and 2005, he held a professorship at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf.
Performance and Discography
Since 1981, Koelman has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. His recorded works span various composers, including J. S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Sergei Prokofiev. In 2010, his recording of concertos with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra received an Edison Award for the most popular classical album in the Netherlands.
Instrumental Assets
Additionally, he plays a violin crafted by Giovanni Francesco Pressenda in 1829. His engagement with instrument craftsmanship also extends to projects like 'The Magic of Wood,' which documented fifteen instruments created by Roberto Regazzi.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, Amsterdam
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Primary Instrument: Violin
- Role: Professor, Zurich University of the Arts
- Former Position: First concertmaster, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
- Notable Recording: 24 Paganini Capricci
Questions readers ask
Where does Rudolf Koelman teach?
He is a professor for violin and chamber music at the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland.
Which instruments does he play?
Achievements
- Instruments: violin
