BIOGRAPHY
Anton Spronk is one of the leading cellists of his generation. He is a prizewinner at various national and international competitions, including first prize and two special awards at the Competition of the Cello Biennale Amsterdam, first prize at the International Mazzacurati Cello Competition in Turin and was a semi-finalist at both the ARD International Music Competition
in Munich and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Furthermore, in 2019 he received the Prix du Rotary at the Verbier Festival and was awarded the Dutch Classical Talent Award in 2021.
Having performed in major concert halls in Europe, America, and Asia – including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall in New York, Tonhalle Zürich, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Seoul Arts Center, and the Berliner Philharmonie – Anton Spronk 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, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie and the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with conductors such as Jakub Hrůša, Nicholas Milton, Vahan Mardirossian and Péter Eötvös
among others.
During the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam in October 2016, he premiered a new 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.
As a passionate chamber musician, Anton Spronk is a regular guest at internationally renowned festivals such as the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, and the Gonjiam Festival in South Korea. Anton also participated in the Verbier Festival Academy in 2019. He is the artistic director of the international festival Eggenfelden klassisch which he founded in 2016, together with violinist Larissa Cidlinsky.
Anton Spronk has been principal cellist of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony (hr-Sinfonieorchester) since March 2024.
Born in 1994, the Dutch-Swiss cellist began playing the cello under the guidance of his father. He continued studying with Monique Bartels in Amsterdam and later with Thomas Grossenbacher in Zurich. Anton Spronk completed his studies with Jens Peter Maintz at the Berlin University of Arts. He received further important musical impulses from Steven Isserlis, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Valter Despalj, Anner Bijlsma, Jiang Wang, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Troels Svane and Wolfgang Boettcher.
Already in his early teenage years he won numerous competitions such as the Foundation for Young Musical Talent in the Netherlands (2003 & 2009), the Prinses Christina Competition (2010), the Swiss Migros-Kulturprozent competition (2014 & 2015) and the Kiefer-Hablitzel Competition in Bern (2020).
Anton Spronk plays on a 1865 Vuillaume cello, generously on loan to him by The Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation.
in Munich and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Furthermore, in 2019 he received the Prix du Rotary at the Verbier Festival and was awarded the Dutch Classical Talent Award in 2021.
Having performed in major concert halls in Europe, America, and Asia – including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall in New York, Tonhalle Zürich, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Seoul Arts Center, and the Berliner Philharmonie – Anton Spronk 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, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie and the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with conductors such as Jakub Hrůša, Nicholas Milton, Vahan Mardirossian and Péter Eötvös
among others.
During the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam in October 2016, he premiered a new 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.
As a passionate chamber musician, Anton Spronk is a regular guest at internationally renowned festivals such as the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, and the Gonjiam Festival in South Korea. Anton also participated in the Verbier Festival Academy in 2019. He is the artistic director of the international festival Eggenfelden klassisch which he founded in 2016, together with violinist Larissa Cidlinsky.
Anton Spronk has been principal cellist of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony (hr-Sinfonieorchester) since March 2024.
Born in 1994, the Dutch-Swiss cellist began playing the cello under the guidance of his father. He continued studying with Monique Bartels in Amsterdam and later with Thomas Grossenbacher in Zurich. Anton Spronk completed his studies with Jens Peter Maintz at the Berlin University of Arts. He received further important musical impulses from Steven Isserlis, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Valter Despalj, Anner Bijlsma, Jiang Wang, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Troels Svane and Wolfgang Boettcher.
Already in his early teenage years he won numerous competitions such as the Foundation for Young Musical Talent in the Netherlands (2003 & 2009), the Prinses Christina Competition (2010), the Swiss Migros-Kulturprozent competition (2014 & 2015) and the Kiefer-Hablitzel Competition in Bern (2020).
Anton Spronk plays on a 1865 Vuillaume cello, generously on loan to him by The Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation.