Biography

The Latvian cellist Mārcis Kuplais began to play the cello at the age of 6. Since the age of 7 he has been participating in various festivals, concerts and competitions. He has received prizes in 22 solo and chamber music competitions, from them 7 times the first place (in C. Davidoff International Cello competition, A. Dombrovski International Cello competition, Lions Club cello competition and others).
In 1997 and 1998 he got two invitations to the Palace of Riga by president of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis because of his success in international competitions.

He has given solo concerts in Europe, Brasil, Nicaragua, USA, South Korea and Japan as a soloist with various orchestras, including with „Academy of St. Martin in the Fields“ (without conductor), Sinfonieorchester Basel (cond. Ariel Zuckermann, Gabriel Feltz), Georgian Chamberorchester (cond. Ivan Monighetti), Georgia National Symphony Orchestra (cond. Fakhraddin Kerimov), Zurich Academy Orchestra (cond. Marc Kissóczy), Basel Academical Orchestra (cond. Raphael Immoos), Riga Chamber Orchestra (cond. Normunds Šnē) and others.

His chamber music partners were Mstislav Rostropovich, Ivan Monighetti, Ana Chumachenko, Alexander Rudin, Danjulo Ishizaka, Gerardo Vila, Silvia Simionescu and others.
In 2006 he grounded a duo „A&M“ with the pianist Akane Matsumura, with whom he won several competitions in Switzerland, Germany and Italy and recorded two CDs.

From 2002-2010 he studied at the Music Academy of Basel under Professor Ivan Monighetti. 
He has had master classes with Bernard Greenhouse, Anner Bylsma, David Geringas, Troels Svane, Chiara Banchini, Yosif Feigelson, Māris Villerušs, Jānis Laurs and others.

He is playing on a French cello, made ~1870, sponsored by Mr. Dolf Teuscher (“Teuscher” chocolate).