Our story
Bonded by a musical consensus and shared vision, the Heathcliff Trio was founded in 2020 comprising violinist Ashley Tong, cellist Clara Lindenbaum and pianist Jonathan Siahaan. The trio is characterised by their devotion, passion and integrity in their music making, and is quickly establishing itself as an ensemble with the finest artistic quality of today.
Shortly after its inception, the trio made their debut at Wigmore Hall for the final concert of The Parkhouse Award (2021). And in 2022, The trio won 1st prize in the 9th International Johannes Brahms Chamber Music Competition with two additional special prizes including the best interpretation of a piece by Brahms.
Despite their short existence, the trio brings together their extensive individual experiences in chamber music, which include collaborations with artists such as Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Kathryn Stott, Enrico Pace, and Barnabas Kelemen, and continues to strive towards the discovery of their own expression. They have performed widely across Europe, in countries such as Denmark, Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands, Lithuania, Spain, Norway, England, Poland and Switzerland.
Recent highlights in season 22/23 include recitals at The Harrogate International Festival, K&M Festival Stavanger, Hobro Musikforening, Kammermusik Odense (broadcasted on the Danish Radio), ChamberFest Munich (broadcasted on the Bayerischen Rundfunks) and The Gdanks Music Festival. Season 23/24 will see the trio perform in Hindsgavl Festival, K&M Festival Stavanger, where they are named ensemble in residence, as well as Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, where they have been selected as Britten Pears Young Artists 23/24.
The Heathcliff Trio is currently based in Copenhagen under the guidance of Tim Frederiksen at The Royal Danish Academy of Music on the Advance Postgraduate Program and is also a member of the European Chamber Music Academy where they are mentored by Johannes Meissl, and have received further tutelage from Avedis Kouyoumdjian, Hatto Beyerle (Alban Berg Quartet), Patrick Jüdt, Dirk Mommertz (Faure Quartet) and members of the Casals Quartet and the Danish String Quartet.