Duo Chelys
Biography
Masanobu Tokura started to study the violin when he was 4 years old. At 12 years old Masanobu won first prize in the competition for young musicians in Kurashiki, Japan. He studied violin at the university of Toho Gakuen in Tokyo for Toshiya and Angela Eto and graduated in 1994.
Since his youth Masanobu has been interested in baroque music. He studied the baroque violin for Sigiswald Kuijken and François Fernandez at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels and obtained the diploma of « Meester in Muziek » 1998. Equally passionate about the viola da gamba Masanobu studied this instrument first for Wieland Kuijken and later for Philippe Pierlot and obtained a second diploma of « Meester in Muziek » with distinction. During his studies he also had lessons with Herman Stinders, Jan de Winne, Alain Gervreau, Peter van Heygen, Barthold Kuijken and Hidemi Suzuki.
Masanoubu has participated in several recordings and is playing in concerts in Europe and Japan with ensembles such as La Petite Bande, Il Fondamento, Il Gardellino, Les Talents Lyriques, Collegium Vocale Gent etc. He is also organising many chamber music concerts and has been playing in duo with Sigiswald Kuijken, Wieland Kuijken and Benjamin Alard.
Rebecca Lefèvre grew up in Sweden where, from an early age, she played the piano and the cello. In 2004, her interest in early music and history inspired her to begin studying the viola da gamba with Keren Bruce in Stockholm. From 2006, she studied the viola da gamba with Philippe Pierlot at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels where, in 2011, she obtained her Master's diploma, with distinction. During her studies, Rebecca had the privilege of having private lessons with Wieland Kuijken. She has also participated in master classes with Paolo Pandolfo, Jordi Savall and Vittorio Ghielmi.
Rebecca is a co-founder of the chamber music ensemble LinGon, with which she explores early baroque music. She plays regularly with several other chamber music ensembles such as Amaranthus, Lux Beata, BachPlus and Ardalus. Additionally, she is playing with orchestras such as Trondheim Barokk and Le Concert d'Anvers, and has performed with conductors such as Sigiswald Kuijken, Philippe Pierlot and Wim Becu. She has participated in CD recordings and concerts in Europe and Japan.
Rebecca is currently studying the lute with Sofie vanden Eynde.
visit Rebecca's homepage ☞