Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider appointed Visiting Professor

Starting in the upcoming academic year 2020-2021, the internationally recognised violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider will be part of the high-profile teaching staff of The Royal Danish Academy of Music (RDAM). In addition to teaching a number of violin students, he will also hold master classes on an ongoing basis and lead chamber orchestra projects at the Academy.

"My principal motivation is to help to create something, and thereby be of benefit to others and to the music that I am so passionate about. My ambition is to help to make RDAM one of the world’s leading educational institutions and one of the most attractive for the most talented teachers. Many of the frameworks are already in place, both physically and in terms of human resources, so I can easily see myself becoming part of a team that can realise that ambition,” says Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider.

The Danish star violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider (b. 1975) is not just one of the world’s leading violinists – he is also a conductor with an international career and will be principal conductor of the Orchestre National de Lyon from September 2020. In addition to serving as first guest conductor of The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in St. Petersburg (2008-2018) and first guest conductor of The Swedish Chamber Orchestra (2008-2010), Szeps-Znaider has conducted such orchestras as The New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Chicago Symphony, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The London Symphony, The Munich Philharmonic, The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, The Israel Philharmonic and the Staatskapelle Dresden. Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider is highly committed to the development of young talents and has for example founded and been artistic director of The Nordic Music Academy’s summer course for string players.

RDAM’s President Uffe Savery sees great potential in the upcoming collaboration: “We are delighted with Nikolaj’s interest in ‘giving back’ to the coming generations of musicians at RDAM. A talent like Nikolaj, who has had a completely unique career as a musician and conductor, will help to inspire and motivate the students and staff to show the world that classical music can do more and be more. At RDAM, we wish to share the unique power of classical music and train complete, diverse musicians who will make their mark both in Denmark and abroad – and Nikolaj will be an eminent beacon for that mission.”

The public will be able to experience Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider at The Royal Danish Theatre’s Gamle Scene on 10th November, where the Academy will hold a public master class and an artist talk together with Uffe Savery, President of RDAM. More information about this event will be available on the websites of The Royal Danish Theatre and RDAM.

Photo: Lars Gundersen