Gunta Ābele, Cello
The Latvian cellist Gunta Abele was born in Riga, in to a family of musicians. As a soloist and chamber musician Gunta has performed across Europe in prestigious concert halls and international festivals including Rostropovich International Cello Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Menuhin Festival Gstaad, Viva Cello and Santander Academy Festival to name a few.
She has been awarded top prizes in international and national competitions and in 2014 she was nominated as the Young Musician of the Year by prestigious Latvian National Music Award. She has got 2nd prize in Karl Davidov International Competition, Latvia National Music Competition, winner of Concours National du Jura 2007 and the 3rd Prize in the Rahn Music Award Competition. In 2010 she received the 1st Prize and Golden Medal at the European Competition for Young Soloists in Luxembourg.
Gunta graduated with honours the soloist class by Ivan Monighetti and Sol Gabetta in Basel Music Academy, where she also completed her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Music. She began cello lessons with age of 5 in Riga 1st Music School and later in E.Darzins Specialized Music School with prof. Eleonora Testeleca.
The important part of Gunta’s musical voice has been influenced by working with world class musicians and composers like F.Helmerson, G.Kremer, W.E.Schmidt, H.Eschenburg, S.Azzolini, C.M.Mehner, F.Rados, S.Gubaidulina, F.Ali-Sadeh and P.Vasks. Between playing in different orchestras in Europe like Zurich Opernhaus and Kremerata Baltica she often performs as a soloist and has performances with her ensembles – Latvian Piano trio and Duo Mundi.
Thanks to a generous support by the Pirolo Fondation Basel, Gunta Abele performs on a wonderful cello by Bela Szepessy, London 1885.
