Marcel Johannes Kits

MARCEL JOHANNES KITS began his cello studies at the age of five and studied at the Tallinn Music Middle School (L. Leichter and M. Laas). He continued his studies in Germany at the Trossingen University of Music (prof. F. Gouton, 2014) and the Berlin University of the Arts (prof. J. P. Maintz, 2018). Kits has furthered his education through many masterclasses with renowned cellists (S. Isserlis, I. Monighetti, D. Geringas, M. Kliegel, W. E. Schmidt, W.-S. Yang, L. Fenyö, J.-E. Gustafsson, M. Ylönen, H.-D. Varema, and others).

He secured third place at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels (2022) and first place in the Estonian String Players' Competition (2015), J. Brahms Competition in Austria (2016), and G. Enescu Competition in Romania (2018). In 2019, he reached the semi-finals of the ARD International Music Competition in Germany. He also won first place in the ETV televised competition "Klassikatähed" (2013).

As a soloist, Kits has performed with orchestras such as the Estonian and Latvian National, Lithuanian State, Liepaja, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Württemberg Philharmonic, Jena Philharmonic, Israel's Rishon LeZion, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestras, Kymi Sinfonietta, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Tallinn, Moscow State, Novosibirsk, and Munich Chamber Orchestras, G. Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, and others.

He has collaborated with conductors such as V. Sinaisky, O. Elts, A. Mustonen, R. Joost, G. Rinkevičius, V. Matvejeff, T. Kaljuste, W. E. Schmidt, A. Volmer, M. Kütson, Y. Kim, and J. Alperten. Additionally, he has performed with the Bavarian Radio SO as a guest concertmaster in the cello section and regularly plays with the Estonian Festival Orchestra.

He has performed in countries like China and Japan and renowned venues including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, Berlin Konzerthaus, Moscow Conservatory, Berlin Philharmonic, Boulez Hall, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Munich Prinzregententheater, Bucharest Ateneul, Tel Aviv Opera House, and Jerusalem Theatre. He has participated in festivals such as the Pärnu Music Festival, Young Euro Classic, Festspiele Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Musical Olympus Festival, and MustonenFest Tel Aviv.

Kits participated in the recording of Arvo Pärt's children's songs CD (2015) and chamber music CDs for the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben (2016, 2017, 2018).