Frin Wolter (b. 1994), is an accordionist based in Luxembourg, mostly active in Belgium, France and Germany, where he is currently cooperating with a diversity of musicians, composers, ensembles and artistic collectives. As a strong advocate for contemporary music and connoisseur of the 20th century accordion repertoire, he encourages the creation of new works for his instrument in close collaboration with composers. He equally shares great passion for baroque music and is himself the author of a great number of arrangements and transcriptions in various styles and formations. Frin Wolter distinguishes himself from other accordionists of his generation through his ability to break through the stereotypes of the accordion and to go beyond the barriers of a standardised classical music scene, by joining multidisciplinary projects that include all kinds of genres, artistic disciplines and cultural backgrounds.
Picking up the accordion at the age of 8, his academic pathway led him through the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg (LU), the ESMD in Lille (FR) in the class of Vincent Lhermet and the University of the Arts, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (FI), where he completed a bachelors and masters degree in accordion performance and pedagogy with Matti Rantanen, Veli Kujala, and Helka Kymäläinen in 2021.
Besides, Frin has benefited from the guidance of numerous personalities such as Vincent Peirani, Matti Rantanen, Vincent Lhermet, Mika Väyrynen, Teodoro Anzellotti, Susanne Kujala, Geir Draugsvull, Stefan Hussong, Janne Rättyä, Silvain Tissot, Klemen Leben, Mie Miki, Heidi Luosujärvi and Vladimir Blagojevic.
Artistic career
Since 2019, he is a permanent member of the Luxembourg based Contemporary music Ensemble United Instruments of Lucilin. He is active in numerous chamber music formations such as the Duo Kiasma, the Trio Accord (LU), and his Trio WAS+ (FI). He has been invited to various ensembles around Luxembourg, including the Orchestre National de Metz, Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg, les solistes européens, Kammerata Luxembourg and NYKY contemporary music ensemble (Fi). He is regularly conceiving and participating in pedagogical and social projects with the Koplabunz Cie, Fondation EME and Dadophonic collective.
Since 2021 he is active in cultural institutions such as the Philharmonie du Luxembourg, Cité Musicale de Metz, Opéra comique de Paris, Les Théâtres de la VDL, Villa Vauban and KuFa. He has been regularly invited to numerous festivals including the Rainy Days 2023 (LU), Lokakuu Festival Oulu 2023 (FI), NovemberMusic 2022 (NL), Esch22 (LU), DKMF 2024 (LU), Summerdream Steinfort festival (LU), Bruxelles Street are festival (BE), the "Journées du Patrimoine de l'Opera” in Lille, and the International Accordion Festival in Kokkola (FI).
His experience as a high-level soloist allows him to perform in various chamber music ensembles as well as orchestras. He has performed works as a soloist with Orchestra on numerous occasions, such as A. Sallinen's (FI) Concerto for accordion “Barabas Variations”, Jacqueline Fontyn's Accordion Concerto "Vent d'Est", and Astor Piazzolla's Concerto "Aconcagua". Regularly he is part of contemporary opera productions such as « The Sleeping Thousand » by Adam Maor and Yonatan Levy at the Aix-en-Provence opera festival (FR), "l'Inondation" by Francesco Filidei, ou encore "La voix d'Hébron" by Cristian Carrera.
As an instrumentalist in larger ensembles, he has performed with conductors such as Elena Schwarz, Julien Leroy, Leonhard Garms, Manuel Nawri, David Reiland, Arthur Faegan and Pit Brosius.
Awards and distinctions
At the age of 18 he is the winner of the Luxembourgish "Accart" Competition, winning the first national prize and the promotion prize of the Ministry of Culture (2012) and later the international "Accordéopale" competition in Berck-sur-Mer, where he won the 2nd prize (2014), France. He has been awarded with the finalist prize at the all-instruments competition Prix Anne and Françoise Groben (2017).
Personal Interests
Besides his accordionist career, Frin is interested in audio technology and sound editing, theater and dance. He is also a passionate hobby baker, cook and wood sculptor.
Grants and artistic support
Throughout the years, his endeavours have been supported financially by the Ministry of culture of Luxembourg (2022-2024), KulturLx (2023-2024), Fondation Independance (2024), Madetoja Foundation (2022) and the Cultural Fund Focuna (2014). In 2018, Frin was invited to the international music academy of Villecroze (France) and is since then benefiting from their artistic support for young talents. Since 2022 he benefits from the statute of intermittent artist workers by the ministry of culture of Luxembourg.
Picking up the accordion at the age of 8, his academic pathway led him through the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg (LU), the ESMD in Lille (FR) in the class of Vincent Lhermet and the University of the Arts, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (FI), where he completed a bachelors and masters degree in accordion performance and pedagogy with Matti Rantanen, Veli Kujala, and Helka Kymäläinen in 2021.
Besides, Frin has benefited from the guidance of numerous personalities such as Vincent Peirani, Matti Rantanen, Vincent Lhermet, Mika Väyrynen, Teodoro Anzellotti, Susanne Kujala, Geir Draugsvull, Stefan Hussong, Janne Rättyä, Silvain Tissot, Klemen Leben, Mie Miki, Heidi Luosujärvi and Vladimir Blagojevic.
Artistic career
Since 2019, he is a permanent member of the Luxembourg based Contemporary music Ensemble United Instruments of Lucilin. He is active in numerous chamber music formations such as the Duo Kiasma, the Trio Accord (LU), and his Trio WAS+ (FI). He has been invited to various ensembles around Luxembourg, including the Orchestre National de Metz, Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg, les solistes européens, Kammerata Luxembourg and NYKY contemporary music ensemble (Fi). He is regularly conceiving and participating in pedagogical and social projects with the Koplabunz Cie, Fondation EME and Dadophonic collective.
Since 2021 he is active in cultural institutions such as the Philharmonie du Luxembourg, Cité Musicale de Metz, Opéra comique de Paris, Les Théâtres de la VDL, Villa Vauban and KuFa. He has been regularly invited to numerous festivals including the Rainy Days 2023 (LU), Lokakuu Festival Oulu 2023 (FI), NovemberMusic 2022 (NL), Esch22 (LU), DKMF 2024 (LU), Summerdream Steinfort festival (LU), Bruxelles Street are festival (BE), the "Journées du Patrimoine de l'Opera” in Lille, and the International Accordion Festival in Kokkola (FI).
His experience as a high-level soloist allows him to perform in various chamber music ensembles as well as orchestras. He has performed works as a soloist with Orchestra on numerous occasions, such as A. Sallinen's (FI) Concerto for accordion “Barabas Variations”, Jacqueline Fontyn's Accordion Concerto "Vent d'Est", and Astor Piazzolla's Concerto "Aconcagua". Regularly he is part of contemporary opera productions such as « The Sleeping Thousand » by Adam Maor and Yonatan Levy at the Aix-en-Provence opera festival (FR), "l'Inondation" by Francesco Filidei, ou encore "La voix d'Hébron" by Cristian Carrera.
As an instrumentalist in larger ensembles, he has performed with conductors such as Elena Schwarz, Julien Leroy, Leonhard Garms, Manuel Nawri, David Reiland, Arthur Faegan and Pit Brosius.
Awards and distinctions
At the age of 18 he is the winner of the Luxembourgish "Accart" Competition, winning the first national prize and the promotion prize of the Ministry of Culture (2012) and later the international "Accordéopale" competition in Berck-sur-Mer, where he won the 2nd prize (2014), France. He has been awarded with the finalist prize at the all-instruments competition Prix Anne and Françoise Groben (2017).
Personal Interests
Besides his accordionist career, Frin is interested in audio technology and sound editing, theater and dance. He is also a passionate hobby baker, cook and wood sculptor.
Grants and artistic support
Throughout the years, his endeavours have been supported financially by the Ministry of culture of Luxembourg (2022-2024), KulturLx (2023-2024), Fondation Independance (2024), Madetoja Foundation (2022) and the Cultural Fund Focuna (2014). In 2018, Frin was invited to the international music academy of Villecroze (France) and is since then benefiting from their artistic support for young talents. Since 2022 he benefits from the statute of intermittent artist workers by the ministry of culture of Luxembourg.
