The members of the Van Baerle Trio met each other as students at the Amsterdam Conservatory. From the beginning they were coached by Dmitri Ferschtman, and followed lessons and master classes with a.o. Willem Brons, Ana Chumachenco, Mark Lubotsky and the Parkanyi Quartet. Most crucial for the development of the trio was their meeting with Menahem Pressler, who follows the trio since 2008.
The Van Baerle Trio is a multiple prize winner on national and international competitions - in April 2011 the trio was awarded the 1st Prize, the Public Prize and 2 special prizes at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition, and one month later the trio won the Vriendenkrans Competition, where they were awarded both the Radio 4 “Talent of the Year” Award and the Public Prize.
In March 2011 the Van Baerle Trio made a successful tour in the Netherlands, acclaimed both by audiences and critics, and made their Concertgebouw debut the same month. The trio is a regular guest on the Dutch radio and television, and participated at international festivals in the Netherlands and in France.
Hannes Minnaar (piano) was awarded 3rd Prize at the International Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels in May 2010, and won the 2nd Prize (premier nommé) at the renowned Geneva International Music Competition in 2008. He studied with Jan Wijn in Amsterdam, where he received his Master degree with distinction in 2009. He took part in numerous master classes with a.o. Leon Fleisher, Ferenc Rados and Mikhail Voskressensky. He leads an intensive concert career throughout Europe, and performed as a soloist with conductors such as Frans Brüggen, Marin Alsop, Otto Tausk, Edo de Waart or Markus Bosch. In 2011 Hannes was awarded a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship.
Gideon den Herder (cello) received the Dutch Young Music Talent of the Year Award in 2003. He studied with Monique Bartels in Amsterdam. At the same time he had baroque cello lessons with Jaap ter Linden. From 2007 to 2010 Gideon continued his studies with Clemens Hagen (member of the famous Hagen quartet) at the Mozarteum Salzburg, receiving his Master degree with highest distinction. Currently Gideon is studying for his soloist degree in Zürich with Thomas Grossenbacher. Besides, he followed regular master classes with Frans Helmerson in Sweden. In 2009, he won with his early music ensemble the Early Music Competition « A Tre » in Trossingen (Germany).
