Andreas Birk

From the Winter of 2006 until May 2007 I have had the opportunity of taking lessons with Mrs. Helen Callus. It has been the most inspiring year so far in my music career. Helen is an amazing teacher. First of all, she is one of the greatest violists I have ever heard perform, which is obviously very inspiring. But she is also very good at explaining how to improve technical as well as musical skills. She has the ability to simplify any issues on the viola and make them easier to understand and work with.

What I probably like the most about Helen’s way of teaching is that she doesn’t just tell you what to do. It’s not a matter of right or wrong, but by having conversations and by using guidelines a matter of finding the best way to make things work well for you.

Helen helps you to develop your own personal expression as a musician and artist. I’m very grateful for what I have learned from her.

Andreas Birk is currently studying viola at the soloist-class at the Royal Danish Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. He began playing the violin at the age of four in Holmegaard Music School, Denmark. At age 11 Andreas started studying with the famous Danish Violinist, Soeren Elbaek. Andreas continued working with Mr. Elbaek until being accepted at The Royal Danish Music Conservatory in 2003 as a violin major. Because of his great interest in playing the viola, Andreas decided to change his major and continue studies on the viola.  He studied viola under Professor Tim Frederiksen and Professor Johannes Eskjaer.

In the winter of 2006, Andreas came to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to study with Violist Mr. Paul Coletti (Viola Professor at UCLA and The Coldburn School in LA) and Violist Mrs. Helen Callus (Viola Professor at UCSB). Until now he has primarily studied with Mrs. Helen Callus in Santa Barbara.

Andreas does not only perform classical music, but also a number of different genres such as: jazz, pop, rock, folk, country, and traditional gypsy music. He also composes and performs his own music.