TRIO SOMNI
Trio Somni successfully emerged on concert stage throughout Europe in 2018. From 2020 violinist Nils Friedl joined the founding members Ionas Mercadal (clarinet) and Nino Gurevich (piano), who met at the EUMWA (European Music Workshop Altomünster), where Ionas as a student and Nino as an accompanist participated for many years.
The great passion for music performing as well as high level of musical intellect are few of many wonderful features that brought the three instrumentalists together into a chamber group harmoniously. The trio delivers ardour, excellence, dynamic interpretation, sensitivity, virtuosity, offers wide range of repertoire and a unique sound colour. Playing in chamber music is an essential part in personal and musical development of young and adult professionals alike and rewarding for the audiences both intellectually and emotionally.
This musical group is truly a joyful friendship of like-minded, passionate musicians who are able to communicate their musical ideas masterfully both with each other and with audiences who enjoy their high quality music-making.
Trio Somni received the first prize at the International Music Competition "Musikalisches Feuerwerk in Baden-Württemberg" in Karlsruhe in April 2022, and is also the first prize winner and the scholarship holder at the IX Stockholm International Music Competition (June 2022), first prize winner at the "Heirs of Orpheus" 9th International Music Competition in Bulgaria (September 2022) and first prize of the International Competition "Stars at Tenerife" (November 2022). Trio Somni is a finalist at the Music International Grand Prix in New York in April 2024.
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Nils Friedl- violin
Born in Munich in 1998, Nils Benjamin Friedl began playing the violin at the age of 4 and has since given successful concerts in many countries in various formations.
Concert tours through Europe have taken Nils as a member of the Bundesjugendorchester to famous halls such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie, Herkulessaal Munich under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle and Mariss Jansons. He also toured South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam, where he had great success with a classical string quartet as well as a solo program.
Classical music is not the only thing that inspires the young violinist: his father and guitarist Robert Friedl introduced him to jazz at an early age and the two musicians still give concerts as "DuoFriedl". In September 2023 they will go on tour in Asia.
In combination with the best DJs of the European club scene, Nils plays not only for exclusive corporate events and galas, but also at large festivals and concerts, such as in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne in front of about 15,000 people as a support act for reggaeton world star Nicky Jam.
On his way to a career as a soloist and chamber musician, Nils was accompanied by many renowned teachers: Fagu Turku, Claudia Sutil, Peter Michielsen and Georg Pfirsch.
In 2023, he graduated from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich with Professor Mi-Kyung Lee.
Ionas Mercadal - clarinet
Ionas Mercadal Euler was born in 2003 in Sant Cugat del Vallès into a family with a long musical tradition. He received his first clarinet lessons at the age of 6 from his father Juanjo Mercadal and then he continued studies at the music school Fusió de Sant Cugat. In the winter term of 2014-2015 he started his professional studies at the Conservatori de Sant Cugat with Professor Clara Font. In the summer of 2019 he completed his studies of the clarinet in "Grado professional” and graduated from the Conservatory of Sant Cugat del Vallès. In 2019/20 and 20/21 Ionas studied as a junior student at the ESMUC (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya) with Professor Josep Fuster. Since October 2021 he is studying at the Leopold Mozart College of the University of Augsburg with Prof. Harald Harrer. This university class also includes regular lessons with Manfred Preis (former bass clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic) and David Schöndorfer (Munich Symphony).
Since 2010, as a student of the German School in Barcelona (Abitur - High School Graduation 2021), Ionas regularly participated in the "Jugend musiziert" competition, receiving numerous first prizes on the national level (Spain/Portugal) as a soloist and in the category duo (clarinet and piano). In 2018 and 2021 he won 2nd prize in the Bundeswettbewerb in Germany (Lübeck and Bremen) in the category solo clarinet, and in 2019 he was also a prize winner in the category duo (clarinet and piano) in Halle. In January 2020, at the age of 17, he won the 1st prize in the "International Mozart Competition" in Tbilisi (Georgia) in the 17-20 year rating. It was the only first prize in the wind instruments category. In August 2020 he was awarded the "Assoluto Prize" of the competition "Internationaler Wettbewerb Musikalisches Feuerwerk Baden-Württemberg" in Karlsruhe (Germany), in November 2020 he was awarded the “First Prize” in the International Music Festival-Competition “Stars at Tenerife” (Canarias/Spain), in January 2021 he won the 3rd prize in the “Junior” category of the “1st International Online Clarinet Competition ‘Guy Deplus’, Gran Canaria”, in February 2021 he won the “First Prize” in "XII Savshinsky International Music Competition Saint Petersburg", Russia, in July 2021 he won the "First Prize" in "VIII Stockholm International Music Competition", Sweden, and in September 2022 he was laureate of First Prize and Special Diploma for the most artistic Сontestant of the 9th International Music Competition "Heirs of Orpheus" in Bulgaria. In January 2023, Ionas was selected for the CAREER PROJECT of the Tiziano Rossetti Academy in Switzerland, and in February of the same year he won First Prize at the 2nd International Online Music Competition in Lugano (Switzerland). In December 2023 he was awarded the "Grand Award" (the candidate who received the highest mark over all categories), two "Platinum Prizes" (Virtuoso and Woodwind categories) and the "Technical Mastery Special Award" at the "Universal Stars Music Competition". In the same month he also received a "Competition Winner Platinum Prize" (Wind instr., age 18-21) in the "World Classical Music Awards".
Ionas regularly attends international masterclasses, in Germany with professors Harald Harrer and Norbert Kaiser, in Portugal with António Saiote, in Spain with Dmitry Rasul-Kareyev and Josep Fuster and in Austria with Sebastian Hayn.
He has a considerable concert experience both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. The last concerts as a soloist together with his father Juanjo and the orchestras in Sant Cugat and Niš (Serbia) were televised and highly acclaimed. He is a founding member of the Trio Somni (violin, clarinet, piano), with which he won first prizes in international competitions in Karlsruhe, Stockholm, Albena (Bulgaria) and Tenerife in 2022. He was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Catalonia and at the age of 18 he was invited to work as a substitute in the symphony orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona Opera House). Since then he has worked in several productions. His successes have been highly praised by the press in Germany. In April 2018 "Süddeutsche Zeitung" wrote: "The clarinet-Mephisto, who truly took the audience's breath away and received a thunderous ovation." And Josep Pons, Musical Director of the "Gran Teatre del Liceu" in Barcelona and Honorary Director of the "Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España (Madrid)" wrote about Ionas: ..."A few weeks ago, Ionas collaborated with the orchestra of the "Gran Teatre del Liceu" in a seasonal concert, playing Gustav Mahler's third symphony in the role of a second clarinet, under my direction. I have to say, honestly, that it has caught my attention to have found myself in front of a musician and clarinetist not only excellent, but considering his youth, even exceptional...".
Ionas is considered an exceptional talent not only due to his technical abilities but also because of his musical maturity.
Nino Gurevich - piano
Born in Tbilisi (Georgia) into a family of musicians, pianist Nino Gurevich is an excellent soloist and chamber musician on international stage. She debuted with Mozart's Piano Concerto in A major KV 488, accompanied by the Georgian Symphony Orchestra at 9 years old. Among several prestigious prizes at the national and international competitions Nino was a recipient of the international "New Names" and of the international Vladimir Spivakov Foundation’s scholarships.
Nino studied with professor Edisher Russishvili first at the music school for children with extraordinary talent and then at the State Conservatory in Tbilisi, where she graduated with honors. In the same year Nino continued studying in the „Meisterklassenpodium” (Master) for piano with Prof. Elisso Wirssaladze at the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater" in Munich. She was the winner of the concert competition (Konzert-Wettbewerb der Hochschule) and finished her studies with honors. Afterwards she studied with Prof. Helmut Deutsch in the "Meisterklassenpodium" Liedgestaltung.
Nino gives concerts throughout Europe and Asia and is invited to many festivals, masterclasses and competitions as a jury member while holding a position at the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater" in Munich (Dozentur Korrepetition) as well as at the Leopold Mozart College at the University of Augsburg.
Her recent solo CD titled “the whole world disappears when...“ received great attention from the audiences. The music reviews describe Pianist Nino Gurevich as an extraordinary master of the instrument with a deeply introspective musical nature.