Julia Goldstein German pianist and music teacher Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Education
2. Notable Achievements
3. Artistic Development
4. Solo and Ensemble Collaborations
5. Teaching Career

Early Life and Education

Nelly van der Graaf was born in Russia and began studying piano at the tender age of five under the tutelage of Nune Khachaturian, the daughter of renowned composer Aram Khachaturian. In 1974, she relocated to Germany with her father and continued her musical journey.

Notable Achievements

In 1979, van der Graaf triumphed at the prestigious "Concertino Prague" youth competition, surpassing the likes of Stanislav Bunin and Yukino Fujiwara. Her accolades also included victories in several German competitions. In 1980, she embarked on her first international tour with the Lower Saxony Youth Orchestra, performing in Portugal.

Artistic Development

In 1986, van der Graaf graduated from the Hanover University of Music and Drama under the guidance of Karl-Heinz Kämmerling. She further honed her skills with Boris Bloch in Essen and Sulamita Aronovsky in Manchester.

Solo and Ensemble Collaborations

Van der Graaf's remarkable talent extended to solo performances and collaborations with renowned musicians, including Sabine Meyer, Christian Tetzlaff, and Alexander Rudin. She also performed with her father, recording Johannes Brahms' and César Franck's violin and piano sonatas.

Teaching Career

Since 2002, van der Graaf has dedicated herself to teaching alongside her husband at the Nuremberg University of Music. Among their notable students is the acclaimed Chinese pianist Li Jin Sang.