Mr. Kerem embodies a tradition of famous violinists who are not only virtuosic soloists in their own rights, but also prestigious orchestral leaders, versatile chamber musicians and renown composers as well. A musician first and foremost and an ardent believer that music, it’s form and structure can transcend all cultural and political boundaries, there is nothing beyond the range a scope of Mr. Kerem. Of Estonian descent, the music of Estonia and the Baltic’s is especially important to Mr.Kerem and he often performs works of Estonian composers.
Currently the Assistant Concertmaster with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, UK and Brandenburg Sinfonia, UK. Mr. Kerem started studying the violin at aged 6 with Mirjam Kerem, then at the Estonian Academy and finally at the Royal College of Music with Levon Chillingirian. In composition Mr. Kerem studied with Mati Kuulberg, and Jaan Rääts at the Estonian Academy and William Mival at the RCM. Mr. Kerem holds two degrees in composition and three degrees in music performance and teaching.
In addition to his orchestral playing Mr. Kerem is in demand as a soloist worldwide, and has played with, amongst others, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, the Estonian Opera Orchestra, and the Brandenburg Sinfonia. Mr. Kerem has also performed at Chamber Music Festivals across Europe, featuring live on BBC Radio Three.
To date Mr. Kerem has composed over 170 works. Critic Robert Maxham writes for Fanfare:
“anyone who believes traditional tonality to be no longer capable of expressing anything more than timeworn clichés should listen to Kerem’s work.”
Mr. Kerem’s extensive catalogue consists of 8 symphonies, numerous concertos, orchestral works, ten string quartets, string sextet, string octet, three sonatas for violin and piano, two wind quintets, sonatas for viola and piano, cello and piano and solo piano. Mr. Kerem’s works have been performed in the USA, Russia, UK, Germany, Holland, and many other European countries. Mr. Kerem was invited as composer in residence at the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival in Germany and the Aurora Chamber Music Festival in Sweden. Performers have included the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra with Neeme Järvi, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Oulu Sinfonia, Joensuu City Orchestra, Camerata Nordica and the Chilingirian String Quartet.
In 2012, Toccata Classics released a CD of his 4 Violin Sonatas. A second CD of Symphony No. 3, Lamento for Viola and Strings and the String Sextet was issued in 2013
