40 Fingers Piano Sunday 25 March 1700 €25

One of the highlights of the classical music season at Quintinha da Música is a gathering of Dutch pianists at two grand pianos.

Inge Lulofs works with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, where she plays piano and celesta, and is the accompanist for all auditions. She holds a Performance Diploma (1985) from the Conservatory in Enschede, The Netherlands. She has been a member of the Valerius Ensemble since its foundation in 1988. This Ensemble consists mainly of musicians from the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and regularly works with national and international soloists. The Ensemble recorded a number of CDs and DVDs including works by Paul Hindemith, Max Reger, Leo Samama and Raimundo Pena Forte. In an innovative version of ‘Le Carnaval des Animeaux’, by Saint- Saëns, the Ensemble cooperated with the comedian Herman Finkers. She performs regularly as an accompanist of instrumentalists, vocalists and choirs, and has made various radio and TV recordings. Her many concert tours, include those to Russia, South Korea, the United States, Germany, Portugal and Spain. As a piano teacher, she works at a music school in Nordhorn (Germany) and she also works as a private piano instructor through her own studio.

Marlies van Gent was born in Rotterdam and began her musical education at the local Conservatory. She continued at the Amsterdam Conservatory under Jan Wijn, with Ton Demmers at Tilburg, Jacques de Tiège in Antwerp and finished her formal education with Jevgenia Braginski Yarmonenka in Brussels. She paid special attention to chamber music and the role of accompanist. Summer courses in Dartington and Siena followed and she often attended the master classes of Erwin Schiffer and André Gertler in Goslar. As a professional pianist she gives workshops and participates in many national and international competitions as a member of the judging panel. She is also in demand as a performer in chamber music concerts and is a member of a piano duo performing four-hands pieces. Since 1994 she has taught at the Young Talent Department of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and directs a class of talented young pianists. English born Irene Ainstein won 1st prize in a Competition for Young Musicians after only a year of piano study. After the conclusion of High School, she entered the Superior School Het Twents Conservatorium where she obtained diplomas in Chamber Music, and as Accompanist and Soloist. Irene has played in a number of ensembles and orchestras and has performed in Holland, Germany, England and China. She has also made recordings and participated in several festivals and masterclasses in Germany, England and Holland.

Irene Ainstein teaches at the Conservatório Regional in Faro and continues to perform in concerts with members of the Orchestra of Algarve, with MichaelThomas of the Brodsky Quartet and with several singers as their accompanist of choice.

Frank Fahner studied piano at the Twents Conservatory in Enschede with Johan Jansonius and continued at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Frank is a well known accompanist for solo singers and choirs and he is also renowned as the pianist member of chamber music ensembles; he has also played previously in Portugal in piano quartets. As well as teaching piano to young people and preparing them for competitions and examinations Frank also specialises in teaching adults. In addition to his instrumental activities, Frank has invented computer programs and computer games to help students of music theory to learn more easily through the internet.