Guests

Frédéric Vaysse-Knitter

Artistic Direction, Paris

Frédéric Vaysse-Knitter performs as a guest on prestigious stages such as the Philharmonie de Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam… He is trained in the great tradition of French, Polish, and German piano schools, beginning his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris at the age of 13. He later had a pivotal encounter with Krystian Zimerman. Frédéric is involved in projects that combine music with other art forms. He often collaborates with choreographers and dancers, particularly at the Opéra de Paris (such as Alexander Ekman’s Play in 2022). Frédéric lives in Paris.

Ilmari Hopkins

Artistic Direction, Stavanger

Ilmari Hopkins is the alternating principal cellist in the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra since 2002 and is a lecturer in cello at the University of Stavanger. He has studied with Anatoly Nikitin at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg and with Torleif Thedéen at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where he received his Soloist Diploma in 2002. Ilmari is an enthusiastic chamber musician and has participated in several music festivals across Europe and South America. He is also a cello teacher at OAcademy (formerly OA Orchestra of the Americas) and the talent program (UtB) at the Stavanger Cultural School.