BIOGRAPHY
Anton Spronk (1994) is one of the leading young Dutch cellists. At only 19 years old, he was awarded the 1st prize as well as two special awards at the Competition of the Cello Biennale Amsterdam (2014). In 2019 he was awarded the ‘Prix du Rotary’ at the Verbier Festival and advanced to the semifinals of the ARD-Competition in Munich. In October of the same year, he also won the 1st prize, Audience Award and Orchestra Award at the International Mazzacurati Cello Competition in Turin. Most recently he won the Dutch Classical Talent Award 2021.
At four years old Anton started taking cello lessons with his father Frank Spronk, and continued his studies with Monique Bartels in Amsterdam from the age of twelve. He subsequently earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2017 from the Zürich University of the Arts under the tutelage of Thomas Grossenbacher. Since then, he has been studying with Jens Peter Maintz at the University of Arts in Berlin.
He participated in masterclasses with Steven Isserlis, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Valter Despalj, Anner Bijlsma, Jiang Wang, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Troels Svane and Wolfgang Boettcher. He is also highly involved in the masterclasses at the International Music Academy in Liechtenstein.
Having performed in numerous major halls in Europe, America, and Asia – including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall in New York, Tonhalle Zürich, Seoul Arts Center, and the Berliner Philharmonie – Anton is in high demand as a chamber musician as well as a soloist: he has made appearances with orchestras such as the Munich Chamber Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, The Hague Philharmonic, South Netherlands Philharmonic, and the RAI National Symphony Orchestra. During the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam in October 2016, Anton premiered Out of Step, a cello concerto dedicated to him by the Dutch composer Guus Janssen. In June 2017, he performed the Swiss premiere of the piece Chuang Tzu's Dream by Máté Bella at the Tonhalle Zürich, in a performance conducted by Péter Eötvös.
Anton is a laureate of the Foundation for Young Musical Talent (SJMN) Competition in the Netherlands, where he was awarded 1st prizes in both 2003 and 2009. In 2010 he won the 1st prize and the Audience Award at the Prinses Christina Competition in the Netherlands. Anton was awarded a scholarship at the Swiss Migros-Kulturprozent competition in 2014 as well as 2015, the latter of which he was also awarded an honorable mention at the Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition. In 2020 he won the Kiefer-Hablitzel Competition in Bern, Switzerland.
A passionate chamber musician, Anton regularly performs in various ensembles. In 2014, Anton won the 1st prize at the Kiwanis Competition in Zürich, performing with a Clarinet Trio. He has performed during numerous international music festivals such as the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam, the Gstaad Festival, and the Gonjiam Festival in South Korea. Anton also participated in the Verbier Festival Academy in 2019.
Anton is the Artistic Director of Eggenfelden klassisch, a successful international music festival, which he founded in 2016 in collaboration with violinist Larissa Cidlinsky.
The instrument Anton plays was built in 1865 by J.B. Vuillaume, a cello generously on loan to him by The Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation.
At four years old Anton started taking cello lessons with his father Frank Spronk, and continued his studies with Monique Bartels in Amsterdam from the age of twelve. He subsequently earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2017 from the Zürich University of the Arts under the tutelage of Thomas Grossenbacher. Since then, he has been studying with Jens Peter Maintz at the University of Arts in Berlin.
He participated in masterclasses with Steven Isserlis, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Valter Despalj, Anner Bijlsma, Jiang Wang, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Troels Svane and Wolfgang Boettcher. He is also highly involved in the masterclasses at the International Music Academy in Liechtenstein.
Having performed in numerous major halls in Europe, America, and Asia – including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall in New York, Tonhalle Zürich, Seoul Arts Center, and the Berliner Philharmonie – Anton is in high demand as a chamber musician as well as a soloist: he has made appearances with orchestras such as the Munich Chamber Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, The Hague Philharmonic, South Netherlands Philharmonic, and the RAI National Symphony Orchestra. During the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam in October 2016, Anton premiered Out of Step, a cello concerto dedicated to him by the Dutch composer Guus Janssen. In June 2017, he performed the Swiss premiere of the piece Chuang Tzu's Dream by Máté Bella at the Tonhalle Zürich, in a performance conducted by Péter Eötvös.
Anton is a laureate of the Foundation for Young Musical Talent (SJMN) Competition in the Netherlands, where he was awarded 1st prizes in both 2003 and 2009. In 2010 he won the 1st prize and the Audience Award at the Prinses Christina Competition in the Netherlands. Anton was awarded a scholarship at the Swiss Migros-Kulturprozent competition in 2014 as well as 2015, the latter of which he was also awarded an honorable mention at the Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition. In 2020 he won the Kiefer-Hablitzel Competition in Bern, Switzerland.
A passionate chamber musician, Anton regularly performs in various ensembles. In 2014, Anton won the 1st prize at the Kiwanis Competition in Zürich, performing with a Clarinet Trio. He has performed during numerous international music festivals such as the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam, the Gstaad Festival, and the Gonjiam Festival in South Korea. Anton also participated in the Verbier Festival Academy in 2019.
Anton is the Artistic Director of Eggenfelden klassisch, a successful international music festival, which he founded in 2016 in collaboration with violinist Larissa Cidlinsky.
The instrument Anton plays was built in 1865 by J.B. Vuillaume, a cello generously on loan to him by The Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation.