Markus Hohti is a cellist of great versatility – equally at home whether playing classical or baroque cello, performing at contemporary music concerts, chamber music festivals, and jazz clubs. He has recently developed an interest in electro acoustic music and cross-genre projects. He performs actively as a soloist, chamber musician and with his own ensembles defunensemble, Uusinta Ensemble, Tristero Piano Trio and Rödberg Trio.
In addition to performing with his numerous regular ensembles, Markus is currently working on a project focussing on the recording and concert performance of Brahms’s cello sonatas in collaboration with the pianist Emil Holmström. Through their performances of these sonatas, Markus and Emil wish to restore the sonic richness and the soundscape of the late nineteenth century by using old grand pianos and gut strings. Meanwhile, upcoming new-music projects include a new electronic cello–percussion duo in association with Samuli Kosminen. The fruit of this collaboration is a new work combining the worlds of contemporary music and experimental electronic music, a work that can soon be heard both on disc and in live performances.
Markus’s most memorable solo performances include Brian Ferneyhough’s legendary ‘Time and Motion Study 2’ at the Helsinki Festival and Sebastian Fagerlund’s ‘Stone on Stone’ as a soloist with Avanti! Chamber Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu.
As a chamber musician Markus has performed at major festivals and concert halls, including Kuhmo Chamber Music, Lucerne Festival, Salzburger Biennale, Tonhalle in Zurich, Berlin Filharmonie and Pekka Kuusisto’s Our Festival. He has premiered hundreds of new pieces and collaborated with renowned artists such as Ralf Gothoni, Cyprien Katsaris, Pierre Boulez, Sofia Gubaidulina, Jaime Martin, Alasdair Beatson, Thomas Demenga, Rainer Schmidt, Gordan Nikolic and Malin Broman.
In 2011, the KLANG-concert series was born through Markus’ initiative at the Helsinki Music Centre. He is also a co-founder and co-director of Ristiveto Festival together with pianist Emil Holmström and violinist Eriikka Maalismaa. A committed and experienced pedagogue, Markus has recently been appointed as a senior lecturer at Tampere Music Academy.