THE CELLOWORLD FESTIVAL
DEDICATED TO THE ART OF CELLO PERFORMANCE AND PEDAGOGY
The Festival
Celloworld Festival - Granada
Passion - Inspiration - Excellence
The Celloworld Festival is designed for cellists who are passionate about the cello and want to take their performance to the next level.
In collaboration with the Academia Internacional de Música Fundacion Caja Rural Granada, participants of the Celloworld Festival will have the opportunity to study with world-renowned cellists through masterclasses, individual lessons, and specialized workshops. In addition, participants will perform in a public concert in the wonderful auditorium of the Academia Internacional de Música Fundacion Caja Rural in Granada, Spain.
As part of the Celloworld Festival Granada, legendary Spanish cellists and composers will be celebrated in concerts and the various influences and stylistic interpretation in repertoire will be explored. Our aim is to create an immersive experience in which the cultural heritage of Spain can be integrated in the interpretation of cello repertoire. However, participants are free to choose the repertoire they prefer to work on during the festival.
Furthermore, the festival will take place in close vicinity of the majestic Alhambra, directly following the world-renowned celebrations of Lent and Easter (la Semana Santa). Join us for an unforgettable journey of artistic growth and inspiration at the Celloworld Festival!
Faculty
Anzél Gerber - Founder & Director. Specialist for gifted cellists
Solo- & teacher training
Internationally acclaimed cellist Anzél Gerber is celebrated for her expressive artistry, impeccable technique, and dedication to nurturing the next generation of cellists. In addition to her distinguished performing career, she has led masterclasses at prestigious music institutions and festivals across Europe, the USA, Asia, and Africa.
Born in South Africa, Gerber’s musical journey took her across the globe at just 16 years old to study with legendary cellists—disciples of Mstislav Rostropovich or his teacher, Simeon Kozolupov—in Spain, Russia, and the United Kingdom. She earned her PhD in Music Performance from Goldsmiths, University of London, under the mentorship of Prof. Alexander Ivashkin and Prof. Natalia Shakhovskaya.
Her deep passion for talent development inspired extensive post-doctoral research across China, Korea, Japan, Europe, and the USA, focusing on specialized training for gifted young cellists.
Based in Vienna, Austria, she continues to perform and teach internationally.
As the Founder and Director of the Celloworld Festival, Dr. Gerber brings extensive experience and passion for cello performance and education, fostering a vibrant community dedicated to the art of the cello.
Emil Rovner
Born in Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod), Russia, Emil Rovner is an internationally acclaimed cellist, singer, and conductor, praised for his “flawless technical mastery” (FonoForum) and profound expressive depth. A versatile artist, he is also a dedicated teacher and festival director.
Recent engagements include performances with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Dvořák Cello Concerto), the Korean Chamber Orchestra in Seoul, Sinfonietta Cracovia, and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Ankara, as well as a debut at the Shostakovich Festival in Gohrisch featuring a world premiere by Sofia Gubaidulina. He has appeared at leading festivals and venues such as the Casals Festival Prades, Beethovenfest Bonn, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, KKL Lucerne, Menuhin Festival Gstaad, and Tivoli Concert Hall Copenhagen.
Rovner began his musical training in Russia and continued his studies with Ivan Monighetti and Boris Pergamenschikow, receiving decisive artistic influence from Mstislav Rostropovich. He has collaborated closely with composers including Gubaidulina, Silvestrov, Holliger, Nørgård, and Mansurian.
A prizewinner at major international competitions—including the Johannes Brahms Competition, the Lausanne Competition, and the J. S. Bach Competition in Leipzig—he has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the St Petersburg Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, and Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra.
A passionate chamber musician, Emil Rovner performs regularly with leading international artists. He is co-founder and artistic director of the Resonanzen Festival in St. Moritz and the Mieczysław Weinberg Festival in Dresden, and serves as professor at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden. His recording of the solo works of Mieczysław Weinberg received five stars from FonoForum and was nominated for the ECHO Klassik Award.
Luis Zorita - Cellist of „Concentus Musicus“
Solo-, baroque cello & orchestra training
Luis Zorita, born in León, Spain, is a distinguished cellist renowned for his profound musicality and technical mastery. His formal education includes studies in Oviedo under Alexander Fedorchenko, in Chicago with Christopher Costanza, and in Vienna guided by Rudolf Leopold. Throughout his career, Zorita has garnered numerous accolades, securing top prizes in international competitions across the USA, Japan, Spain, and Austria.
As a soloist, Zorita has delivered compelling performances of major cello concertos, collaborating with esteemed conductors such as Sir Neville Marriner in Beethoven's Triple Concerto. His concert tours have graced prominent cultural centers worldwide, including Chicago, London, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Graz, and Vienna.
In the orchestral realm, Zorita has held principal cellist positions with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He is also a valued member of the Merlin Ensemble Wien and, since 2007, the Kreisler Trio Wien. His chamber music endeavors have led to collaborations with pianists such as Eduard Kutrowatz and Alejandro Picó-Leonís.
Zorita's discography includes recordings of Mozart's Divertimento K 563 and Horn Quintet K 407, released under the Paladino Music label. He performs on a rare Giovanni Baptista Roggeri cello from 1675, lending a historic depth to his performances.
Beyond the stage, Zorita is dedicated to education, conducting masterclasses and serving as a regular instructor for youth orchestras, including the Joven Orquesta Nacional de España and various regional youth orchestras.
Luis Zorita's artistry continues to captivate audiences and inspire the next generation of cellists.
Atanas Krastev
Atanas Krastev is one of Bulgaria’s leading cellists and a sought-after educator. A graduate of the National School of Music “Lyubomir Pipkov” and the National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov,” he earned his Master’s degree under Prof. Anatoli Krastev and later specialized with Prof. Natalia Shakhovskaya at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid. He completed his Doctorate in 2016 and, since 2025, has been Professor of Cello at the National Music Academy in Sofia.
Krastev has given masterclasses throughout Europe and South America and frequently serves on juries of national and international competitions. His artistry has been recognized with over sixteen top prizes, including awards from competitions in Austria, Spain, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Among his distinctions are the Chamber Music Prize in Madrid (presented by Queen Sofía), the International Cello Competition “Liezen,” and the “Jeunesses Musicales” International Competition.
He is the recipient of numerous national honors, including two “Crystal Lyre” Awards, the “Golden Muse,” the “Golden Age” Award of the Ministry of Culture, and the “Golden Feather.”
As a soloist, Krastev has performed across Europe and beyond, collaborating with major orchestras and appearing at leading festivals in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Russia, Greece, Brazil, and many other countries. His performances have been broadcast on Bulgarian National Television, Nova TV, Serbian National Television, and Brazil’s TV Globo. He has recorded for the Bulgarian National Radio and released projects including a DVD in Brazil, a CD with the Sofia Soloists under Plamen Djurov, and a CD with Trio Oscar Esplá de Asisa.
A passionate chamber musician, Krastev is a member of the cello trio Cellissimo, co-founder of the cello quartet Underground, and Artistic Director of the Cellissimo Festival & Academy, dedicated to promoting and expanding the art of the cello.
Amaia Ruano
Teacher training and high-performance coaching
Amaia Ruano is a cellist, therapist, and high-performance coach whose work bridges musical excellence with emotional and mental wellbeing. Alongside her performing career, she is deeply committed to supporting musicians in developing resilience, expressive freedom, and sustainable performance practices.
As a cellist, she studied with renowned teachers including Luis Claret, Gary Hoffman, Monique Bartels, and María de Macedo, and has performed with ensembles such as the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra and the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. Her musical background is enriched by a strong pedagogical foundation, having studied cello pedagogy at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where she received training in neuroeducation, and becoming certified as a Suzuki method teacher.
Amaia combines her artistic practice with extensive training in Gestalt therapy, trauma-informed therapy, emotional regulation, and peak performance coaching. She has completed specialized studies with institutions such as the Trauma Research Foundation, the Institut Integratiu (Barcelona), and EFIC, among others. This interdisciplinary approach allows her to work holistically with musicians, addressing performance anxiety, emotional intelligence, and mental focus.
A dedicated teacher trainer, she regularly leads courses and workshops at conservatories throughout Spain and collaborates with institutions such as the Barenboim-Said Foundation. She currently teaches at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music and the Conservatories of Igualada and Granollers.
Through her work, Amaia Ruano is passionately devoted to enriching the musical landscape by empowering students and professionals alike with the emotional, mental, and bodily awareness needed to reach their full artistic potential.
Partners
Benefits included in the course fee:
Solo performers:
(Selected students will perform in public masterclasses)
Free access to attend all masterclasses and concerts
Selected participants will perform in a public concert.
Piano accompanist for lessons, 1 rehearsal and concert
Single application fee: €621
Early bird applications discount : 690€-10% = 621€
Apply before 31 January 2026 and save 69€!
From February 1st 2026 the Fee will cost €690
Cello teachers:
- Teaching virtuosity
- Aural development for cellists
- The art of teaching
- Talent development
- Incorporating baroque techniques
- Your Individual questions or topics
Free access to attend all masterclasses and concerts.
Optional participation in Celloworld Orchestra and participation in concert.
2 Excursions to historically significant venues.
Single application fee: €621
Early bird applications discount : 690€-10% = 621€
Apply before 31 January 2026 and save 69€!
From February 1st 2026 the Fee will cost €690
Entries close 1 March 2026!
Please note that travel and accommodation expenses are excluded.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Preliminary calendar
Daily individual lessons, masterclasses and concerts – and time to explore Granada and the surrounding area.
Details to be confirmed.
Please note: the schedule is subject to change.
Detailed time schedule to be communicated shortly.
Celloworld Festival
