LIEDDUO

ELLA MARSHALL SMITH x JULIA SECKLER

Founded in 2023, the Lied collaboration between New Zealand soprano Ella Marshall Smith and Ukrainian pianist Julia Seckler has swiftly established itself with notable achievements. In April 2024, they secured the first duo prize at the 6th Gustav Mahler Song Competition in Hamburg. This was followed by an invitation to be artists in residence at the Sylt Akademie am Meer. In June 2024, Marshall Smith and Seckler presented their program "Kriegsverluste" at Laeiszhalle Hamburg. They are scheduled to return in February 2025 for another recital, which will also mark Julia Seckler’s final examination.

The pair met at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, where they were connected through their shared interest in French and American song repertoire while pursuing their Konzertexamen studies. Under the guidance of Professor Burkhard Kehring, they refined their partnership. Their collaboration continues to evolve and reflects their mutual dedication to the art of Lied.

Julia Seckler

PIANO

Julia Seckler, born in Odessa, has achieved significant success in numerous competitions across Ukraine, France, the Czech Republic, and Germany. After her studies with Professor Natalia Michailova at the Odessa National Academy of Music, she continued her education with Professor Michael Uhde at the Karlsruhe University of Music starting in April 2014. There, she developed a deep passion for chamber music and Lied interpretation, drawing inspiration and encouragement from distinguished mentors such as Angelika Merkle, Markus Hadulla, and Ralf Gothóni.

Julia further enriched her training through masterclasses with Klaus Hellwig, Alexander Bondurjansky, Peter Lang, the Fauré Quartet, and at prestigious institutions like the German Lied Academy in Trossingen and the International Hugo Wolf Academy in Stuttgart. Since 2020, she has been studying Lied interpretation with Professor Burkhard Kehring at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre. Julia Seckler received a special award for piano accompaniment at the Gustav Mahler Lieder Competition in Hamburg in 2021 and 2022, and in 2024, she won first place together with her duo partner Ella Marshall Smith.