ABOUT ME
A passion for performing and teaching has been a constant thread throughout my life.
My name is Tomoko Suzuki. I began playing the violin at the age of five. My mother was a piano teacher and initially wanted to teach me the piano, but I chose the violin instead, drawn to the beauty of its sound.
After my studies in Japan, I decided to continue my violin education in Prague, Czech Republic. While considering where to pursue my studies, I happened to receive a ticket to a recital in Tokyo by the Czech violinist Professor Václav Snítil. I was deeply moved by his playing, and at that moment I knew that I wanted to study with him. I had also heard that, besides being a musician of great artistic depth, he was an exceptional teacher.
PRAGUE
During my studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (Akademie múzických umění v Praze), I studied with great dedication. One of the greatest privileges of my musical life was the opportunity to study with Professor Snítil. He was not only an exceptional violinist and teacher, but also a remarkably intelligent and inspiring person.
I also studied chamber music with distinguished musicians including Professor Milan Škampa (Smetana Quartet), Professor Václav Bernášek (Kocian Quartet) and Professor Petr Messiereur (Talich Quartet).
Alongside my violin studies, I completed all my academic subjects in Czech and wrote my master’s thesis entirely in Czech — an enormous challenge. In the end, all that hard work was rewarded: I completed my master’s degree cum laude, with distinction.
After graduating, I performed with various orchestras and ensembles. I was a member of the Czech Philharmonic, where I played several concerts each week and travelled extensively.
After years of this intensive orchestral life, my path eventually led me to the Netherlands, where I moved with my then partner for his work.
FROM PRAGUE TO THE NETHERLANDS
Wanting to build connections with other musicians in the Netherlands as well and deepen my interest in the Baroque violin, I decided to study Baroque violin at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
My interest in the Baroque violin had begun during a masterclass with Christian Tetzlaff. In a conversation with him, he spoke enthusiastically about historically informed performance practice, although he is not himself a Baroque violinist.
Although this was an additional course of study for me, I was admitted directly to the master’s programme, this time studying in English. I successfully completed this second master’s degree under Professor Lucy van Dael, whose playing I still greatly admire, particularly in her performances of Bach.
PRIZES, MASTERCLASSES & MUSIC FESTIVALS
I received prizes and distinctions at national and international competitions and auditions, including fifth place at the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach, Austria.
I took part in international masterclasses with renowned violinists including Christian Tetzlaff, Yfrah Neaman, Uto Ughi and Boris Belkin.
Over the years, I have performed in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Japan and Taiwan.
I have also performed at internationally renowned music festivals, including the BBC Proms in London, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Prague Spring International Music Festival, the Lucerne Festival and the Wiener Festwochen at the Musikverein in Vienna.
Yet throughout my performing career, my love of teaching has always remained.
During the pandemic, when concert activity came almost to a standstill, I devoted more of my time to teaching, and many new students joined my studio. Even after the pandemic, my passion for teaching continued to grow.
LANGUAGES
I speak English (C1+), Dutch (C1+), German (C1+) and Czech — no longer as fluently as I once did, but still at a good level — as well as my native Japanese.
Learning and speaking foreign languages is not only a practical necessity for me, but also something I genuinely enjoy.
