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He has a lot to say: Sometimes he is a subtle poet, sometimes a passionate speaker, sometimes he asks questions, sometimes he chats charmingly” (Westdeutsche Zeitung)

There was a poet sitting at the piano. An intelligently chiselled romantic who can also pull out pranks (RheinPfalz)

Once described as a stubborn Bolshevik, once as a poet, Arash Rokni has been working to play the keys and read abstract black dots on paper since his childhood.

Born in Tehran, Iran, he first came in contact with music through his mother’s attempts to learn the traditional Iranian instrument “setar” and his father’s interest in Western classical music.
After going through a lot of imaginary careers as conductor (replacing Karajan in front of the cd player), film composer (composing stage music for the glorious school theatre productions!) and poet (effects of an early discovery of coffee), he devoted himself to piano playing. Towards this decision, his teacher Tamara Dolidze was a great inspiration.

After being encouraged in Armenia by Giorgi Raphaelowitch Avanesov and Ashot Ghazarian, he began his studies with Markus Tomas at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig and later with Claudio Martinez Mehner at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. He was also mentored by Nina Tichman (piano) and Anthony Spiri (chamber music), and fed his curiosity further through learning from Andreas Staier, Ferenc Rados, Rita Wagner, Andreas Kemenes, as well as Robert Levin, Adelina Oprean and Alexander Melnikov.

A second and audience prize winner of the the 21st Bach competition Leipzig, Arash’s path has taken him to perform in Iran, Armenia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Denmark and UK, in venues including Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Gewandhaus zu Leipzig, Schumann Saal Düsseldorf, BASF Ferienhaus and NDR Sendesaal Hannover. His performances have been broadcast by WDR, MDR and NDR, Radio France, BBC 3, Radio Catalunya etc. Arash is an enthusiast of programming lesser known repertoire, especially those of the baroque era and the Russian Avant-garde.

Finding pure joy in sharing the stage with colleagues, Arash has been an active chamber musician. His chamber music experiences led him on stage with musicians such as Miklos Perenyi, Bernarda Fink and being a member of recently founded “Trio Saye” together with Oliver Herbert and Abigel Kralik and a member of M.A.D Ensemble Basel.

Older keyboard instruments (even older than “modern piano”!), and the tradition of Basso Continuo are an important source of inspiration for Arash. In this field he has been influenced by the guidance of Gerald Hambitzer, Michael Borgstede and Weronika Konstancja Stałowska.

Together with Pianist and friend, Julia Polinskaja, he founded the concept of “Duo Noema”, providing an online platform for crossover music activities with literature, cinema, paintings etc. as well as being a Piano duo. The website of Duo Noema can be reached here: https://www.duonoema.com/

Being a passionate Cinema and Literature lover, Arash takes inspirations from diverse interests, especially currently from S.Beckett, Sā’eb Tabrīzī, Hafiz, Paul Thomas Anderson and A.Tarkovsky. He is trying his hands in amateur short story writings and recently created his first (amateur) short movie.

In an attempt to share his curiosity with younger musicians, Arash is currently a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerpen.

Lastest release

Upcoming Events

  • November 9, 2024 Bonn Fortepiano at Beethovenhaus Bonn Fortepiano at Beethovenhaus
  • November 17, 2024 Kirchheim Bolanden: Scarlatti Kirchheim Bolanden: Scarlatti
  • December 9, 2024 December 10, 2024 Kronberg: Masterclass with Antje Weithaas, together with Oliver Herbert Kronberg Academy
  • December 13, 2024 December 14, 2024 Kronberg: Masterclass with Steven Isserlis Kronberg Academy
  • December 31, 2024 Fortepiano at Beethovenhaus Beethoven Haus-Bonn
  • January 18, 2025 Paris: Live at Radiofrance Paris: Live at Radiofrance
  • February 16, 2025 Otzberg, Concert with Mathis Rochat. Schubert, Kodaly, Shostakovich Sekretariat Otzberger Sommerkonzerte Hauptstr. 5 B, 64853 Otzberg
  • March 19, 2025 Kronberg Kronberg Academy
  • May 16, 2025 May 21, 2025 Chiemgauer Musikfrühling Chiemgauer Musikfrühling
  • July 8, 2025 July 9, 2025 Barcelona, CD recording with Adam Newman, viola
  • September 8, 2025 September 15, 2025 Brussels, TARA Festival
  • September 13, 2025 Scotland: Lammermuir Festival Scotland: Lammermuir Festival
  • September 15, 2025 Perth, Scotland, Recital, Works by Schumann, Kurtag and Scriabin Perth Theater
  • January 18, 2026 Malta, Recital at the Valletta baroque festival, works by D'anglebert, Muffat etc.
  • May 5, 2026 Schleswig (DE), Beethoven Concerto 3 with Landestheater Schleswig-Holstein and Harish Shankar
  • May 6, 2026 Flensburg (DE), Beethoven Concerto 3 with Landestheater Schleswig-Holstein and Harish Shankar
  • May 7, 2026 Rendsburg (DE), Beethoven Concerto 3 with Landestheater Schleswig-Holstein and Harish Shankar
  • May 9, 2026 Brunsbüttel (DE), Beethoven Concerto 3 with Landestheater Schleswig-Holstein and Harish Shankar

Past Events

  • October 20, 2024 Bonn Fortepiano at Beethovenhaus Bonn Fortepiano at Beethovenhaus
  • October 11, 2024 Bonn Fortepiano at Beethovenhaus Bonn Fortepiano at Beethovenhaus
  • October 5, 2024 France: Aigues-Vives France: Recital at the Festival international de piano de Mus
  • September 28, 2024 Bonn, Fortepiano: Works by Beethoven etc. Beethoven Haus-Bonn
  • September 20, 2024 Cologne: Concert with Trio Linos Sancta Clara Keller Am Römerturm 3 50667 Köln
  • September 6, 2024 Bonn, Fortepiano: Works by Beethoven etc. Beethoven Haus-Bonn
  • September 6, 2024 September 14, 2024 Munich: ARD Competition with Oliver Herbert Munich
  • September 1, 2024 Kerpen: Recital with Works by Beethoven, Brahms and Gubaidulina Kirche St. Kunibert Kerpen-Blatzheim
  • August 28, 2024 Berlin, Recital with works by Kurtag, Brahms, Beethoven Piano Salon Christophori
  • August 18, 2024 August 23, 2024 Antwerpen, Belgium Antwerpen: Masterclass
  • August 11, 2024 Otzberg: Recital with Works by Brahms, Beethoven and Kurtag Otzberg, Germany
  • July 13, 2024 July 21, 2024 El Vendrell: Pau Casals Festival El Vendrell: Pau Casals Festival
  • July 6, 2024 Fortepiano: Works by Beethoven etc. Beethoven Haus-Bonn
  • May 19, 2024 Görlitz: Concert with Mathis Rochat
  • April 27, 2024 April 29, 2024 Concert with Mathis Rochat (Viola)
  • April 23, 2024 Cologne: Benefizkonzert für Armenien
  • April 13, 2024 Works by Beethoven etc. Beethoven Haus-Bonn
  • April 5, 2024 March 7, 2024 Kronberg, Masterclass with Gidon Kremer with Oliver Herbert Kronberg
  • April 5, 2024 April 7, 2024 Kronberg: together with Oliver Herbert, Masterclass with Gidon Kremer
  • April 1, 2024 CD Release
  • February 25, 2024 Cologne, Bechstein Zentrum Cologne: Recording with Duo Noema
  • February 3, 2024 Göttingen (DE) Recording Schumann and Mozart with Duo Noema Göttingen, Germany
  • January 29, 2024 Perth, Scotland: Recital with works by Hindemith, Shostakovich and Bach Perth, Scotland
  • January 25, 2024 Stuttgart (DE) Premier recording of Stuttgart, Steinway Haus
  • January 18, 2024 Lüneburg (DE) experiment on new concert format at Leuphana University Lüneburg
  • January 13, 2024 Brussels: TARA concert series: Trio with Oliver Herbert and Abigel Kralik Brussels Belgium
  • January 12, 2024 Brussels: TARA concert series: Trio with Oliver Herbert and Abigel Kralik Brussels Belgium
  • December 5, 2023 Musselburgh, Scotland :Lunchtime Concert Brunton theater, Musselburgh
  • November 28, 2023 Berlin: Recital at Salon Christophori Berlin, Germany
  • November 20, 2023 Bonn: Concert with Duo Noema, Works by Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Schumann Bonn
  • November 6, 2023 November 13, 2023 Lebanon: Concerts and masterclass Lebanon
  • October 28, 2023 October 28, 2023 Reger Bachvariationen Köln
  • October 22, 2023 October 26, 2023 Rehearsal days with Trio Cologne, Germany
  • October 20, 2023 Recital with Works by Bach, Shostakovich, Kurtag, Reger Stuttgart, Steinway Haus
  • October 6, 2023 Fortepiano Recital at the Beethovenhaus Bonn (Works by Bach family and Beethoven) Beethoven Haus-Bonn
  • July 8, 2023 July 16, 2023 Pau Casals Festival El Vendrell
  • June 10, 2023 Reger Bach Variations in Hannover Reger Festival Hannover Marktkirche
  • June 4, 2023 Video recording, Works by W.A.Mozart with Duo Noema Cologne, Germany
  • May 7, 2023 Andernacher Musiktage 2023, Works by Schumann, Schubert (Duo Noema) Andernach
  • May 3, 2023 Recital at Mercoledì Pianistici Elisarion (Schubert,Bach, Mosolov) Locarno
  • April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 Premiere recording of "Stück für zwei Klaviere" by H.Sardaryan (Duo Noema) Aachen, Cologne
  • March 25, 2023 Concert with Ensemble M.A.D (Schönberg and Beethoven) Sinngewimmel Cologne, Germany
  • March 10, 2023 Recording with works by A.Schnittke (Duo Noema) Aachen
  • December 17, 2022 Video recording with Oliver Herbert, Cello Cologne, Germany
  • November 12, 2022 November 16, 2022 Masterclass with Andreas Staier and Peter Wollny Beethoven Haus-Bonn
  • September 3, 2022 Fortepiano-Cello Recital with Oliver Herbert Cellist, Beethoven Sonatas Op.5 Kerpen, Germany
  • August 5, 2022 Recital with works by Bach, Schubert, Schumann und Brahms Toulouse
  • August 3, 2022 Recital with works by Bach, Schubert, Schumann und Brahms Prieuré La Réole Gironde
  • July 19, 2022 Schubert with Aidan Mikdad Sala Argenta, Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria
  • July 15, 2022 Schubert with Miklós Perényi Sala Argenta, Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria
  • July 13, 2022 Piazzola, Guastavino and De Falla with Bernarda Fink Sala Argenta, Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria
  • June 29, 2022 June 30, 2022 Recording works by Brahms and Schumann on a Blüthner 1880 Cologne
  • June 13, 2022 June 17, 2022 Recital on the Board of Sea Cloud Spirit Cruise Ostende-Hamburg
  • June 11, 2022 Complete Brahms sonatas for Violin and Piano with Anna Melkonyan Brahms House, Hamburg
  • May 29, 2022 Mahler With "Das Neue Orchester" WDR Funkhaus
  • May 21, 2022 Zimmermann's Monologe with Duo Noema Musik-Akademie Basel
  • February 6, 2022 Rezital in Wasserschloss Hausmarck Haus Marck
  • January 29, 2022 Private Recital in Geneva Geneva
  • January 26, 2022 Video Recording with M.A.D Ensemble Cologne
  • January 18, 2022 Beethoven Quintett in der Reihe Spitzentöne Cologne, University of Music and Dance
  • December 18, 2021 Recital at Bürgermeisterhaus Essen
  • November 16, 2021 November 20, 2021 CD recording
  • November 7, 2021 Rezital in Wasserschloss Hausmarck Wasserschloss Haus Marck
  • October 26, 2021 House Concert with Amia Janicki Geneva
  • October 23, 2021 House Concert with Amia Janicki Fontainebleau
  • September 8, 2021 September 18, 2021 Leeds Piano Competition 2021 Leeds University
  • August 22, 2021 Concerto with Sinfonietta Köln and Cornelius Frowein
  • August 22, 2021 Concerto with Sinfonietta Köln and Cornelius Frowein Erftstadt
  • June 9, 2021 BÖG Stiftung, Unterer Rheinweg 26, Basel Museum Kleines Klingental
  • October 30, 2020 Bachfest Eisenach Nikolaikirche Eisenach
  • October 17, 2020 Cologne , Germany Chamber music hall, University of Music and Dance, Cologne
  • October 11, 2020 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany BASF-Feierabendhaus
  • February 22, 2020 Recital with Works by Mossolov, Brahms,Bach,Rameau Gewandhaus zu Leipzig
  • December 6, 2019 Recital with Works by Mossolov, Brahms,Bach,Rameau and Hindemith Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
  • December 5, 2019 Recital Schumann Saal, Düsseldorf
  • December 3, 2019 Recital NDR Kleiner Sendesaal, Hannover

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