Sontraud Speidel

Born in Rastatt in 1991, Frank Düpree began studying piano performance at the age of five, and has studied under the direction of Sontraud Speidel at the University of Music in Karlsruhe since 1998. At 16 years of age, Frank has already amassed an impressive array of musical accomplishments; he has won over 50 national and international awards. His accolades include several first federal prizes at “Jugend Musiziert,” first prize at the 2006 International Piano Competition in Rome, first prize at the 6th International Piano Competition for Young Pianists “A Step to Mastery” in St. Petersburg, and first prize for both solo piano and original composition last year at the 12th International Piano and Composition Competition “Carl Filtsch” in Sibiu, Romania. Frank’s performances have garnered exuberant reviews, which all attest to his impressive musical maturity, as well as his “acrobatic dexterity and exuberant musical spirit.” (Darmstädter Echo, September 22, 2007). Beyond piano performance, Frank is also an accomplished composer and conductor. In addition to his original compositions, which include pieces written in twelve-tone technique, Frank also writes the cadenzas for all the piano concertos he performs. Frank has also had the honor of conducting the Kyoto chamber orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of Karlsruhe University of Music, as well as the Baden-Baden Philharmonic.