Kammermusikfest 2026
Chamber music plus: original programs with chamber music, orchestra concerts and contemporary music performed by some of the most renowned chamber players in the world!
But who is actually playing at the Kammermusikfest?
All concerts of the Kammermusikfest
For the two weeks, concertmasters, members of the world's best chamber music groups and university professors travel to Ernen to make music for a two-week period in ever-changing formations with the highest intensity and enthusiasm. Many of the musicians say that the two weeks in Ernen are the best time of their year: an enthusiastic atmosphere among the musicians, an receptive and open audience, ideal conditions and the breathtaking surroundings in Ernen make the perfect mix.
The programmes bring together exciting pieces from baroque music to contemporary music. Each of the concerts has a characteristic title that refers to the respective festival theme. In each concert, listeners are thus immersed in a coherently designed musical cosmos that is both varied and interwoven.
In 2025, the group consists of the following musicians:
Alasdair Beatson is the artistic director of the Kammermusikfest. He selects the invited musicians, designs the programmes and finds the ideal combination of musicians for each piece. Beatson is a world-renowned chamber musician who has worked with Steven Isserlis, Pekka Kuusisto, Viktoria Mullova, Pieter Wispelwey, the Doric Quartet, Gringolts Quartet, Meta4 Quartet and the Nash Ensemble. He teaches piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. First time in the Musikdorf: 2011
Joonas Ahonen is a world-renowned performer of both contemporary music and chamber music on period instruments (Fortepiano). He was a member of the Klangforum Wien and plays regularly with Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Pekka Kuusisto. He is professor of piano at the Cologne University of Music and Dance. First time in the Musikdorf: 2024
Manuel Astudillo Quintero is a young chilenian flutist, who, after his studies in Geneva, found his new home in Belgium, where he is principal flute at the Opera Ballet Vlaanderen . Manuel won among others the Kiefer Hablitzel | Göhner Musikpreis . First time in the Musikdorf: 2026
Violinist and violist Daniel Bard performs as concertmaster of the Basel Chamber Orchestra, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and the Budapest Festival Orchestra, and is also principal violist of the Amsterdam Sinfonietta and principal member of the Swedish Camerata Nordica. First time in the Musikdorf: 2014
Jordi Carrasco Hjelm is a Swedish double bass player who has made a name for himself as an outstanding chamber musician and improviser. In both chamber orchestra and crossover ensembles, he is a sure guarantee of perfect timing and solid foundation. He performs regularly with the O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra (Stockholm) and the Asko Schönberg Ensemble (Amsterdam). First time in the Musikdorf: 2019
Matteo Cimatti is a young italian violinist who lives in between Florence, London and Basel. Recently he won the auditions for the YCAT scheme. Cimatti is supportet by the Rahn Kulturfonds. First time in the Musikdorf: 2025 as member of the Wendel Quartet («Newcomers»).
Alessandro D'Amico was born in Caracas and was a member of the "Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra", where he was able to work with Claudio Abbado, Gustavo Dudamel and Sir Simon Rattle, among others. After his studies in Europe, he became a member of the Merel Quartet and the Camerata Variabile (Basel). First time in the Musikdorf: 2021
Italian cellist Francesco Dillon is in demand as both a chamber musician and interpreter of contemporary music, including as a member of the ensemble Alter-Ego and the Quartetto Prometeo. He has worked with Philip Glass, Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich, among others, and is artistic director of Music@villaromana (Florence) and the Castel Cello Festival (Tyrol). First time in the Musikdorf: 2021
Miquel Garcia Ramon is a young spanish cellist who lives in Basel. He performs as soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member and covers a broad repertoire from ancient to contemporary music. Miquel is a laureate of the Kiefer Hablitzel | Göhner Musikpreis. First time in the Musikdorf: 2026
Francesco Granata is a young italian pianist who lives in Basel. He is an active chamber musician and succeeded as soloist at various competitions such as Busoni competition (2021) and Van Cliburn Competition (2024). He is supported by Rahn Kulturfonds . First time in the Musikdorf: 2025 as member of the Wendel Quartet («Newcomers»).
Maja Horvat is a versatile chamber, solo and orchestra musician who lives in London. 2024 she joined the award winning Astatine Piano Trio, which immediately won several prizes and became BBC3 New Generation Artists 2025–2027. First time in the Musikdorf: 2026
Clarinettist Matthew Hunt is one of Europe's leading clarinettists. He is known for his quality vocal musicianship and his gift for communicating with the audience. As a soloist he has performed with Paavo Järvi and Trevor Pinnock, among others, and as a chamber musician with the Pavel Haas Quartet, the Chiaroscuro Quartet, with Pekka Kuusisto, Alina Ibragimova, Thomas Adès, Antoine Tamestit, Cédric Tiberghien, Steven Isserlis and Elisabeth Leonskaja. He is principal clarinettist of the Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and chamber music professor at the Folkwang University in Essen. First time in the Musikdorf: 2019
Violist Lilli Maijala regularly performs as soloist and chamber musician and is a sought after teacher too. She is a member of the Valo Quartet and since 2023, she is a professor at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste. First time in the Musikdorf: 2019
Samuel Niederhauser is a Swiss cellist and winner of major competitions. He is a passionate chamber musician, frequently performs as a soloist and is principal cellist in the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra. First time in the Musikdorf: 2023
Alinka Rowe is a British-Polish violist currently studying at the Musik-Akademie Basel. She has performed with artists such as the Doric Quartet, the Jerusalem Quartet, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Adrian Brendel and Steven Isserlis. First time in the Musikdorf: 2022
Chiara Samatanga is a 1st prize winner of the Lutosławski Competition (Warsaw) and pursues a busy career as a soloist and chamber musician. She is a member of the Carmina Quartet and since 2023 lecturer for violoncello at the Bern University of the Arts. First time in the Musikdorf: 2018
Chiara Sannicandro is a German-Italian violinist who grew up in Salzburg. She has won numerous prizes, is a sought-after chamber musician and plays regularly in the Danish Esbjerg Ensemble and the Camerata Salzburg. For the first time in the Musikdorf: 2025
Spanish percussionist Santiago Villar (1998– ) develops a wide-ranging artistic practice that bridges music and audiovisual creation, with a strong focus on contemporary art. He regularly works with leading contemporary composers and ensembles for contemporary music. Santiago won among others the Kiefer Hablitzel | Göhner Musikpreis and lives in Basel. First time in the Musikdorf: 2026
The Polish violinist Maria Włoszczowska leads the Royal Northern Sinfonia as concertmaster and regularly performs as a soloist in the world's most important concert halls - including the BBC Proms and the Wigmore Hall. She was winner of the 2018 Bach Competition in Leipzig and is first violinist of the Valo Quartet. First time in the Musikdorf: 2018
(For the search engine: Sometimes people search her under the imprecise name Maria Wloszczowska.)
