David Geringas, jury

STRINGS

DAVID GERINGAS (Lithuania–Germany) is a Lithuanian cellist and conductor who studied under Mstislav Rostropovich. In 1970 he won the Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition. His discography consists of about one hundred recordings, many of which won prestigious prizes and awards including Grand Prix du Disque, Diapason d’Or, the German Record Critics' Association Award, Echo Klassik award, etc. David Geringas was the first musician to play works of the Russian and Lithuanian avant garde. Composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina, Ned Rorem and others have dedicated their new cello compositions to David Geringas.

As a conductor he regularly performs in the most prestigious halls such as Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, Tonhalle in Zurich, the Berliner Philharmonie. David Geringas was the main guest conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestras of Kyushu, Tokyo, China and Moscow, the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. In 2010 he performed as an opera conductor for the first time. For several dozen of years he has been teaching at cello classes.

David Geringas is honorary professor at the Moscow Conservatory and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He also holds the honorary doctorate from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Besides, for his worldwide engagement for Lithuanian music and its composers, he was awarded highest distinctions of his country.