Photo: Mira Letzbor
The Duo GlossArte, consisting of Lea Suter and Juan González Martínez, has won the 2025 H.I.F. Biber Prize. The €1,500 prize was awarded as part of the 9th International H.I.F. Biber Competition.
The jury was impressed by the young duo’s performance: “Duo GlossArte clearly led the scoring at the 9th International H.I.F. Biber Competition on May 4, 2025. The trombonist’s virtuosity was astonishing; the clear articulation and the varied program were truly inspiring. Their captivating stage presence and relaxed yet focused demeanor completed the ensemble’s outstanding overall impression,” said Gunar Letzbor, Artistic Director of the competition and founder of the ensemble Ars Antiqua Austria.
The H.I.F. Biber Prize is awarded every two years to outstanding young musicians who are particularly committed to historically informed performance practice. It is named after the Austrian Baroque composer Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644–1704), one of the most important violin virtuosos of his time.
About Duo GlossArte
Duo GlossArte – comprised of Swiss harpsichordist and organist Lea Suter and Spanish trombonist Juan Martínez González – is dedicated to rediscovering historical sound worlds. The two musicians explore original compositions and world-premiere recordings for historical trombone and keyboard instruments using replicas and preserved originals. In 2021, they released their first joint CD on the Dabringhaus & Grimm label – a unique recording featuring a romantic Franz Kuhn trombone and the historic Sauer organ of the Bremen concert hall – which was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award. In 2022, GlossArte was selected as a young ensemble supported by Neustart Kultur.
Lea Suter and Juan González Martínez met while pursuing an Artist Certificate at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Once you have a Master of Music degree from the Royal Conservatoire or an equivalent institute and a strong desire to further develop your professional and artistic skills or concentrate on specific repertoire, you can enrol for another one-year music programme leading to the award of an 'Artist Certificate of Music’.
This programme includes weekly individual instrumental, vocal or composition lessons of 60 minutes. Depending on your preference, you can participate in ensembles, combos or orchestral projects. In addition you have access to the Royal Conservatoire’s External Bookings Office which organises regular opportunities for performances. The programme culminates in an Artist Certificate of Music, which is awarded when the student passes a final public recital or presentation.
