Johannes Degen (Cello)

Johannes Degen was born in Switzerland. After graduating with honours, he studied with Pierre Fournier and Anner Bylsma. As the Cellist of the Amati String Quartet (1981-1991) he studied with the Alban Berg Quartet in Vienna and consecutively won the Premier Grand Prix at the "Competition internationale d'Evian" France (1982) and the "Karl Klingler Wettbewerb Muchen", Germany (1986). The Amati Quartet has concertized in most European countries and the United States. Their numerous recordings received prominent prizes such as the "Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, "Choc Monde de la Musique". As the cellist of the Pearl Trio with Bohumil Smeikal and Rumi Itoh, Johannes Degen toured Europe and Japan annually and recorded a CD with Tschaikovsky and Dvorak Piano Trios. His teaching activities are linked with the "Zurcher Hochschule der Kunste "where in 1996 he became director. Parallel to his work as director, he frequently appears as chamber musician, Jury member of international competitions and is the author of numerous publications of music for cello (Editions Musik Hug and Amadeus). Johannes Degen plays a Cello (Copy of Andreas Guarnerius 1672) by Wolfgang Schnabl, built in 2003.