Nils Mönkemeyer
born 1978, already developed a remarkable career as Violist throughout his studies.

After three years of working with Hariolf Schlichtig at the 'Hochschule für Musik München', Nils graduated with distinction in his exam in 2003. He continued his studies thereafter with Veronika Hagen at the Salzburger Mozarteum, Austria. In addition he has participated in masterclasses given by Yuri Bashmet, which have been a valuable inspiration for his musical career.

He holds prizes and awards from numerous competitions, including a Prize from the Primrose International Viola Competition (2003) and two Prizes as a soloist and as a chamber musician rewarded by the Klassik-Festival Ruhr. He received the Lions-Rotary-Soloprize for Viola in April 2004 and was awarded the first prize in the International Viola Competition of the Austrian Radio in Vienna in December 2004. In April 2006 he received the first Prize in The German Music Competition as well as the first prize and two special prizes for 'Best Artist' and the best Schnittke Concerto in the Yuri Bashmet Competition in Moscow.

Nils is supported by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, the Villa Musica Mainz and the fellowships of Yehudi Menuhin's "Live Music Now". In 2001 he was selected for 'Meister von Morgen', a Werner Richard-Dr. Carl Dörken Foundation's scholarship program for aspiring soloists.

The World Music Days 2000, the Athens Chambermusic Festival, the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Mittelrhein Musik Momente list among Nils Mönkemeyers' international appearances as both a soloist and as chamber musician. Nils has performed with Orchestras such as Vienna Radio Orchestra, Brandenburg State Orchestra or WDR Radio Orchestra, collaborating with conductors such as Mikhael Jurowski, Michael Sanderling, Yuri Bashmet or Reinhard Goebel as well as with artists such as Julia Fischer, Rainer Kussmaul, Patrick Demenga and Leonidas Kavakos. His concerts have been regularly broadcasted on Radio Bremen, Südwestdeutscher Rundfunk, the Bayerischer Rundfunk and on Czech Radio.