Hans Christian Aavik
Musical direction and violin
The Estonian violinist Hans Christian Aavik (1998) won the first prize at the Carl Nielsen International Competition in 2022 and received Germany’s Usedom Music Festival Prize. Gramophone named him "One to Watch" for his effortless virtuosity and sound.
In 2025 he performed alongside Midori during a major tour with Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra in celebration of Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday. Following acclaimed performances of Tabula Rasa at the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Tonhalle Zürich, and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall. The New York Times praised his performance as “astounding.”
His debut album with the Odense Symphony Orchestra under Gemma New (Bruch and Tüür) received five stars from BBC Music Magazine and was named Concerto Recording of the Month. He has also recorded for Deutsche Grammophon’s Rising Stars series.
He has been Young Artist in Focus with the Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn since the 2025/26 season. He has collaborated with, among others, Tabea Zimmermann and Julian Rachlin, and performed the Enescu sonatas with pianist Karolina Aavik. He is currently studying at the Kronberg Academy and was named Estonia’s Musician of the Year 2025. He plays a Maggini violin from around 1610.
