Ensemble Zeitgeist are based in Switzerland and focus on repertoire for both piano trio and piano quartet. Winners of the first Paul Juon Chamber Competition in 2023, they are now supported by the Förderkreis Kammermusik Schweiz as well as being enrolled in the prestigious Basel Musik Akademie Chamber Masters Programme.The Ensemble is one of the most promising chamber music group in Switzerland, being invited several times in Musikdorf Ernen, Lavaux Classic, Festival Hirzenberg or Swiss Chamber Music Festival in Adelboden. They will perform in August 2024 in the famous Zürich Tonhalle.Martin Jollet, Martin Egidi and Tim Crawford met just before the pandemic lockdowns began, during which they had the fortune of ample time to work together. They spent much of the lockdown period rehearsing the three Schumann piano trios, and this became the basis of their playing relationship together. Later, they were joined by Alinka Rowe on viola, and quickly formed a strong playing relationship working on Fauré and Schumann Piano Quartets at IMS Prussia Cove. The Zeitgeists now spend their time exploring both of the piano trio and piano quartet main repertoires, from all musical periods, including modern composers such as Helena Winkelman, Michael Jarrell or Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula.Having all been students of the Basel Musik Akademie for solo and instrumental masters programmes, they are now pursuing a specialised chamber masters degree as an ensemble under the tuition of Anton Kernjak, Rainer Schmidt and Claudio Martinez. Acknowledged by their mentors, they have been selected to take part in several masterclasses with Steven Isserlis in Basel. Aside from the Paul Juon Competition, they have been awarded prizes at Orpheus Competition and the prize for best piano recital in Basel Musik Akademie in 2022, receiving the highest distinction possible as a chamber music group.
Upcoming Performances