KIRSCHTEN, Mirjam von (GER)
KIRSCHTEN, Mirjam von (GER)
Collaborative Pianist
Versatile pianist Mirjam von Kirschten has been praised by the press for her “phenomenal precision and vibrant, committed, and sensitive artistry.” A passionate chamber musician, she was the pianist of the Verdandi Trio together with members of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra for more than twenty years, captivating audiences regularly until 2021. She collaborates with many distinguished musicians, among them Stefan Giglberger (principal cellist of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin), David Frühwirth (violin, University of Vienna), Thomas Irvine (viola, University of Southampton, UK), and soprano Judith Spießer among many others. She has been engaged as a collaborative pianist for numerous concert series, masterclasses (including Walter Berry, Jan-Hendrik Rootering, and the Bavarian State Opera), and competitions such as the ARD International Music Competition. Her active concert career has taken her throughout Germany and abroad, with invitations to festivals including Schleswig-Holstein, Schwetzingen, and Prussia Cove (UK), as well as tours in the United States and Israel. In Munich’s sold-out Herkulessaal, she delighted audiences as soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy.
Her performances have brought her to venues such as the Künstlerhaus and Allerheiligen-Hofkirche in Munich, the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, NDR Hannover, Heinrich-Lades-Halle Erlangen, Stadthalle Göttingen, Graf-Zeppelin-Haus Friedrichshafen, Rosenthal-Theater Selb, Rathaussaal Regensburg, Oetkerhalle Bielefeld, Schloss Elmau, and the Basilica of Birnau. CD and radio recordings document her artistic work. She is continually searching for rewarding repertoire beyond the mainstream and has participated in premieres and first performances of works by contemporary composers including N. Bacri, G. Waterhouse, G. Coates, N. Khachatryan, and D. Eberhardt. Mirjam von Kirschten studied in Munich and Bloomington, USA, with teachers including Leonard Hokanson, Evelyn Brancart, and Gitti Pirner. Lasting artistic influence came from her intensive collaboration with János Starker and Miriam Fried. She is a prizewinner of the German Music Competition and recipient of the Bavarian Scholarship for Highly Gifted Students. Various artistic projects have received support through the German cultural funding programs “Neustart Kultur” and “Live Special Now.”
Since 2023, Mirjam von Kirschten has also been a certified systemic counselor and therapist. With this additional qualification, she supports people in giving their best while finding greater fulfillment in their lives — particularly in high-performance professions and challenging situations. Her areas of focus include self-worth, clarity about one’s personal path, performance preparation and anxiety, and managing professional pressure. At CSI, she will also serve as a mentor.