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The Belgian violinist and conductor, Emmanuel Koch, was the son of François-Henri Koch. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Liège, in the class of his father, Henri Koch, obtained the medal with great distinction and perfected his studies in Paris with Jacques Thibaud and George Enescu. He participated in numerous international competitions, he won the competition in Munich in 1953, finished as a finalist in the same international event in Venice. In 1955, he won the Vieuxtemps prize with the greatest distinction and cheers of jury. He was also in the semi-finals of the International Music Competition Queen Elisabeth of Belgium in 1954.
In 1954, Emmanuel Koch became concertmaster of the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra, then under the direction of André Rieu (the fater). Meanwhile he pursued a soloist career that led him far beyond the borders of the Benelux; he played in France, Germany, Poland, Russia, North America, Canada, accompanied by many pianists (Monique Pichon, J. Grubben, Patrick Crommelinck, Taeko Kuwatta, Jorg Demus, Marcel Cominotto6, Patrick Dheur, Lucette Deliens, Natalia Sharoyeva,
Yasuko Eguchi, Jean Schils). He laso coi-operasted with singers as Jules Bastin and Cécile Leleux, and participated in festivals of Domme, Durbuy, etc.
Since 1969, Emmanuel Koch was Musical Director of Les Solistes de Liége (The Soloists of Liège), a chamber music ensemble, originally founded by his fatewr Henri Koch and the conductor Géry Lemaire in in 1954. In 1970, he became Professor of violin at the Royal Conservatory of Liège.
Le Quatuor municipal (The City Quartet), initiated by Louis Poulet and Henri Koch in 1951, appeared in the Chapelle du Vertbois à Liège. The quartet competition Wégimont, sponsored by HM Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, broutht it internationale fame. The luthier Jean Bauer was one of the winners of the violin session and also president of the jury at a later session. The quartet consisted then of Henri Koch first violin, Emmanuel Koch 2nd violin, Paul Lambert on viola and Charles Bartsch on cello. Thereafter its geometry varies. For over fifty years the quartet animated Liège musical life Liege with a wide repertoire. |
