Frank van de Laar
Frank van de Laar (1965) completed his studies at the Conservatory of Amsterdam under Prof. Jan Wijn obtaining the highest distinction possible.He then went on to study in Hannover under Prof. Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and in Amsterdam with Naum Grubert.
After winning bronze medal at the prestigious Brahms international Piano Competition Hamburg in 1987, first Prize at the Sweelinck Competition Amsterdam, and receiving may other prizes and awards including Slowak Critics Prize and Jacques Vonk Award, many appearances in almost all European countries, as well as Russia, Asia, United States and the Middle East, have followed in quick succession always warmly acclaimed by both public and press.
His repertoire stretches from Bach to contemporary composers, nevertheless allowing lesser-known old and new masterworks to play their own interesting role. Mr. van de Laar is also very active in the field of chamber music. His performances have been recorded during countless radio and television broadcasts and over 30 compact discs bear his name.
At present Frank van de Laar is professor at the Piano department of the Conservatory of Amsterdam and the Artez Conservatory of Zwolle.
has performed in prestigious music festivals around the world, a selection of which include the Amalfi Coast International Music and Arts Festival, PianoTexas, Pianofest in the Hamptons, the XIV NewSound Festival, the Interventions New Music Festival at the Great Gallery of the Toledo Museum of Art, the Prague International Piano Masterclasses, and theGijón International Piano Festival. Dr. De Cock has also been a major prize winner in multiple competitions, including the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, the Ann Arbor Society for Musical Arts Young Artist Competition, the Poland International Music Festival Piano Competition and the Prix des Jeunes and Lions Club music competitions in Belgium.
As the founding director of the Brancaleoni International Music Festival, Dr. De Cock created a large-scale summer festival that offers a unique, intensive, and immersive artistic learning environment to the aspiring young pianists, singers, and string players from around the world in the beautiful Marche region of Italy. Also a sought after teaching artist, Dr. De Cock has presented masterclasses and lecture-recitals in Naples, Amalfi, and Maiori, at the Amalfi Coast International Music and Arts Festival in Italy, the Charles University in Prague, the Pardubice Conservatory in the Czech Republic, Tangaza College and the Conservatoire de Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya, Wah Yan College and Lasalle College in Hong-Kong, China, Tunghai University in Taiwan, and many more. Dr. De Cock has taught and held faculty positions at the State University of New York Fredonia, the University of Michigan, Schoolcraft College, Albion College, and the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. He currently serves on the piano faculty of Florida State University as Associate Professor of Piano.
Dr. De Cock holds a Premier Prix from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, where he was trained in the tradition of Russian pianism by Evgeny Moguilevky, a former student of Moscow Conservatory's legendary teacher, Heinrich Neuhaus, whose formidable students included Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, and Radu Lupu. He also holds a Master’s Degree and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan, which he pursued under tutelage of Logan Skelton. Dr. De Cock has also received guidance from artists such as Claude Frank, Robert McDonald, Yehoved Kaplinsky, Julian Martin, Matti Raekallio, Boris Slutsky, Malcolm Bilson, Martin Katz, Margot Garrett, and Marilyn Horne.
Dr. De Cock is an active member of the American Liszt Society, the College Music Society, and MTNA. His students have won prizes at state and international piano competitions, gained admission to competitive undergraduate and graduate college programs and participated in international music festivals.