Swedish cellist Frans Helmerson studied in Göteborg, Rome and London as well as benefitting from the guidance and support of Mstislav Rostropovich. He has performed with many of this century’s finest conductors, such as Ozawa, Davis, Neeme Järvi, Svetlanov, Salonen, de Burgos and Rostropovich. He has toured with major orchestras in Europe, the USA, South America, Asia and Australia. His love for chamber music led him to take up the position of Artistic Director of the Korsholm Festival in Finland from 1994-2001, and he frequently appears at international festivals. Helmerson held a professorship at the Cologne Music Academy and similar positions in Stockholm and Madrid. He currently teaches at the Barenboim-Said Academy, and the Berlin and Kronberg Academies.