Amatis Trio - Biography

Quite stunning, unbuttoned at full voltage, storm and passion to the fore. With a scrupulous ear for colour and nuance which brought the music’s invention into sharp focus. A masterful performance.

The Strad

Mengjie Han piano
Lea Hausmann violin
Samuel Shepherd cello

The Amatis Trio was founded in 2014 by German violinist Lea Hausmann, British cellist Samuel Shepherd, and Dutch/Chinese pianist Mengjie Han. The three musicians met in Amsterdam, and have performed together in 33 countries around the world. The piano trio is one of the leading ensembles of its generation, praised worldwide for their energy, insight, communication and passion.

Only weeks after their formation the trio won the Audience Prize at the Grachtenfestival-Concours hosted by the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and First Prize at the International Parkhouse Award at Wigmore Hall in London, both venues that now invite them as regular artists. The trio were named ECHO Rising Stars (European Concert Hall Organisation) and selected as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists.

Amatis Trio regularly appear at the worlds leading festivals such as the BBC Proms, Salzburg Festival, Verbier Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. The trio celebrate the ‘triple concerto’ repertoire and have collaborated with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Wales and Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester.

Amatis Trio released their debut CD on AVI Records featuring the music of Enescu, Ravel and Britten. The disc received high praise amongst critics and earned the ensemble’s inclusion in the Gramophone Magazine’s “One to Watch”.

Lea and Sam both play on very fine Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume instruments kindly loaned by generous patrons through the Beares International Violin Society.

Read Samuel Shepherd’s #BBTathomeforawhile blog here

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