Charlie Siem is a violinist of extraordinary talent and youthful exuberance. Born in London to a Norwegian father and a British mother, Charlie began to play the violin at the prodigious age of three, after hearing a performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto by the late Yehudi Menuhin and is fortunate to have been loaned a violin much beloved by Menuhin – his 1735 Guarneri del Gesu d’Egville, now owned by the Elderberry Foundation. Charlie was educated at Eton College and read music at Girton College, Cambridge. He furthered his violin studies with tutors from The Guildhall School of Music and The Royal College of Music – being taught by Ithzak Rashkovsky and Shlomo Mintz. Charlie signed to Warner Classics and Jazz in 2010. This new relationship will generate several recital and concerto recordings, the first of which was released recently and includes spectacular virtuoso repertoire from the great violin masters Paganini, Sarasate, Wieniawski and Kreisler. Charlie is a respected player with a prolific touring history who has appeared with orchestras around the world. His festival appearances include St Moritz, Gstaad, Spoleto and Windsor and orchestras include the Royal Philharmonic, London Mozart Players, Israel Camerata and the Bergen Philharmonic. In 2008 Charlie toured the UK with the Moscow Philharmonic playing Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto to great critical acclaim. Charlie’s debut CD was released in 2008 and featured violin sonatas by Grieg and Elgar. The recording was widely lauded and received airplay on both Classic FM and BBC Radio 3.
Throughout 2009 Charlie’s reputation as one of the brightest new classical artistes grew with prestigious concerts in Paris, London, Oslo, Bergen and Basel. Charlie’s versatility was further demonstrated by a unique collaboration with the Royal Ballet whose dancers he accompanied on a tour to Cuba. Charlie has a great interest in fashion and has appeared in many publications including Italian Men’s Vogue (L’Uomo Vogue), photographs of which were taken by the singer Bryan Adams with whom Charlie subsequently appeared in concert. Other endorsements come from revered names such as photographer Mario Testino who says: “Charlie Siem brings a freshness into the world of classical music, with his contemporary look mixed with his mastering of the violin, the combination make for an exciting spectacle” 2010 was a great year for Charlie with a tour of Bruch and Dvoøák Violin Concertos alongside the Czech Philharmonic, several dates at the Royal Albert Hall and concerts in New York and Tel Aviv all under his belt. The end of the year saw Charlie headlining the popular European Night of the Proms concert series all over Benelux and Germany, a feat of 40 dates that few young artists are able to claim. 2011 is set to be a busy year for Charlie, including dates with the European Chamber Orchestra, The Royal Ballet, Gstaad Menuhin Festival and with Sir Roger Norrington. Charlie will also give recitals in The USA, Norway and at the Royal Festival Hall in London and record his new album for Warner Classics at Abbey Road with the London Symphony Orchestra. Charlie is the 2011 global face of Dunhill - the men’s fashion house and was recently invited to become an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.