Heathcliff Trio© All Rights Reserved // Photo © Andrej Grilc
HEATHCLIFF TRIO
Bonded by a musical consensus and shared vision, the Heathcliff Trio is founded in 2020 Comprising violinist, Ashley Tong, cellist, Sebastian Kolin, and pianist, Jonathan Siahaan. Characterised by their devotion, passion and integrity in their music making, they are quickly establishing themselves as an ensemble with the finest artistic quality of today.
Shortly after its inception, the trio made their debut at Wigmore Hall for the final concert of The Parkhouse Award (2021). And in 2022, The trio won 1st prize in the 9th International Johannes Brahms Chamber Music Competition with two additional special prizes including the best interpretation of a piece by Brahms.
The trio brings together their extensive individual experiences in chamber music, which include collaborations with artists such as Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Kathryn Stott, Enrico Pace, Philippe Graffin and Barnabas Kelemen, and continues to strive towards the discovery of their own expression. They have performed widely across Europe, in countries such as Denmark, Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands, Lithuania, Spain, Norway, England, Poland and Switzerland.
Season 22/23 saw the trio in recitals at The Harrogate International Festival, K&M Festival Stavanger, Hobro Musikforening, Kammermusik Odense (broadcasted on the Danish Radio), ChamberFest Munich (broadcasted on the Bayerischen Rundfunks) and The Gdansk Music Festival.
Recent highlights in season 23/24 include performances in Grafenegg, Hindsgavl Festival, K&M Festival Stavanger, where they are named ensemble in residence. The trio was also selected as Britten Pears Young Artists 23/24 and performed two sold out recitals in Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall. Furthermore, they were also invited to perform live for BBC3 Radio 'In tune'.
The Heathcliff Trio is currently based in Copenhagen and Vienna. They have studied under the guidance of Johannes Meissl and Stefan Mendl on the Chamber Music Postgraduate Programme at The University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and have also been a member of the European Chamber Music Academy where they were mentored by Johannes Meissl, and have received further tutelage from Avedis Kouyoumdjian, Hatto Beyerle (Alban Berg Quartet), Patrick Jüdt, Dirk Mommertz (Faure Quartet) and members of the Casals Quartet. The trio is currently on the Advance Postgraduate Programme with Tim Frederiksen at The Royal Danish Academy of Music.
Ashley Tong
Violin
British-Taiwanese violinist Ashley Tong debuted with The Taipei Symphony Orchestra at the age of 8 after winning the ‘Young Soloist competition’. She has since appeared at the Wigmore Hall, the Barbican Hall, St. Martin in the fields, the Royal Festival Hall, Menuhin Hall, The National Gallery in London, Taiwan National Concert Halls, Wien Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, Graz Musikverein, Bösendorfer Saal in Austria, Crystal Hall in Asahikawa, Japan, Dramaten and Kungasalen in Stockholm, and Konserthuset Stockholm.
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An avid chamber musician, Ashley is the violinist and co-founder of the Heathcliff Trio, with whom she won 1st Prize at the 9th International Johannes Brahms Chamber Music Competition and has performed widely across Europe and appeared at major festivals such as the Harrogate International Festival, Hindsgavl Festival, and Oslo Chamber Music Festival. The trio’s performances have been broadcast on prestigious platforms, including Danish Radio, Bayerischen Rundfunk, and BBC Radio 3.
Ashley has also performed alongside distinguished musicians such as Lev Klychkov (Concertmaster of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra), Günter Seifert (1st Violin of the Wiener Philharmoniker), Philippe Graffin, Barnabás Kelemen, and Kathryn Stott. Her festival engagements include K&M Fest Stavanger, Britten Pears Festival, and the Aurora Festival, where she led the Aurora Symphony Orchestra as concertmaster for two consecutive years, under the baton of Jukka-Pekka Saraste in collaboration with Leonidas Kavakos and Mischa Maisky.
Over the years, Ashley has received accolades from esteemed artists such as Schmuel Ashkenasi, Michael Frischenschlager, and Thomas Brandis. She started playing the violin at the age of 7, studying with the violinist-conductor, Drapal Liao. After graduating from The Yehudi Menuhin School with Lutsia Ibragimova, she continued her studies at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Krzysztof Smietana, earned a Bachelor’s degree at Kunst Universität Graz with Eszter Haffner, a Master’s degree at The Royal Danish Academy of Music with Tim Frederiksen and Peter Herresthal and a postgraduate degree in Chamber Music at The University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Johannes Meissl.
Now based in Copenhagen, Ashley performs regularly across Denmark and is currently pursuing an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma at The Royal Danish Academy of Music with the Heathcliff Trio under the guidance of Tim Frederiksen. She has been supported by notable institutions, including the Wilhelm Hansen Foundation, and continues to distinguish herself on the international stage.
Sebastian Kolin
Cello
Sebastian Kolin began playing the cello aged 7 studying with Wendy max at the junior Royal Academy of Music, soon after he began study privately with Naomi Butterworth and later Melissa Phelps. During this time he was a prizewinner in numerous youth competitions across England including the Blackheath Festival North London Festival among others.
Aged 12, Sebastian Kolin was given a place and bursary to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School where he learnt with Thomas Carrol, Charles Watt and Marie Macleod. Whilst at the Menuhin School, he was given many opportunities to play at prestigious festivals such as the Riems Festival, Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Bath Festival, Bradford Delius Festival and City of London Festival.
He has participated in festivals, masterclasses and lessons with Bernard Greenhouse, Leonid Gorokhov, Guy Johnston, Mark Gothoni, Ralph Gothoni, Heinrich Schiff, Gary Hoffman, Johannes Goritzki, Enrico Dindo, Paul Katz, Mauro Valli, Simon Fontinelli, Carl Schacter, Levon Chilingirian, David Eggert, Reinhardt Latzko, the Linsey Quartet, the Allegri Quartet and the Wihan Quartet.
He has performed across Europe in countries including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Denmark and Norway, made television and radio appearances in Switzerland and played in many of Londons main venues including the Wigmore Hall, the Festival hall, the Purcell room, the Fairfield hall, the Queen Elizabeth hall, the Menuhin Hall and the Elgar Rooms of the Albert Hall. Sebastian has also recorded on a CD of new music by Cheryl-Frances Hoade, 'The Glory Tree', accompanying Leonid Gorokhov in small ensemble for Champs Hill Records.
Sebastian completed his Bachelor of Arts degree studying with Johannes Goritzki and Enrico Dindo in Lugano, Switzerland, at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana whilst also being accepted into the class of the Cremona Quartet at the Walter Stauffer Academy in Cremona, Italy.
Jonathan Siahaan
Piano
Jonathan Siahaan is a Danish pianist based in Copenhagen, known for his artistry both as a soloist and chamber musician. He made his professional debut at the age of 12, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Copenhagen Festival Orchestra, marking the beginning of a distinguished career.
He has performed as a soloist with prestigious orchestras, including the Odense Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Chamber Orchestra, and Danish National Symphony Orchestra. His solo recital debut at Tivoli Concert Hall in 2012 also received high critical acclaim.
Over the years Jonathan has garnered multiple international and national awards, including 3rd Prize in Nordic Piano Competion, 1st Prizes in all three age categories and the VIP Prize in the national Steinway Piano Competition, a Gold Medal in the Berlingske Tidendes Music Competition, and 1st Prize in the Danish Radiocast Competition ‘Spil for Livet’, which was broadcast on national television. He also received 1st Prizes in the Royal Danish Academy of Music Piano Competition in both 2016 and 2018.
Among his numerous accolades, Jonathan has been supported by the Augustinus Foundation, which has provided him with a brand-new Steinway grand piano since 2021. Additionally, he has been honored by several prestigious Danish foundations, including the DR Emil Holms Mindelegat, Den Berlingske Fond, Jacob Gade Talent Prize, Carl Nielsen og Anne Marie Carl-Nielsens Talent Prize, Wilhelm Hansen Fonden, and Odd Fellow Ordenens Legat.
A passionate chamber musician, Jonathan co-founded the Heathcliff Trio in 2020 and has collaborated with renowned artists such as Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Enrico Pace, Sergei Malov, Andrei Bielow, and Andreas Brantelid. He has performed at leading festivals, including the Hindsgavl Festival and Kerteminde Chamber Music Festival, and served as the permanent accompanist for the contestants in both the 10th and 11th Carl Nielsen Violin Competitions in 2016 and 2019. Jonathan has also released a piano album on Dacapo Records featuring contemporary Danish composers.
He began his piano studies at the age of 6, studying under Kyoko Kato and later Bella Zapolski. He completed his Soloist Diploma at the Royal Danish Academy of Music under Professor Jens Elvekjaer, further honing his skills as a versatile and sought-after performer in both solo and chamber music settings. Jonathan is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in chamber music at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.