A poet at the piano” is how the newspaper “Die Welt” described Danae Dörken’s playing at a young age. Born to German and Greek parents in Wuppertal, Germany in 1991, Dörken grew up in a non-musical family. After hearing a girl play the piano at a children’s birthday party at the age of four, Danae was inspired to learn the instrument herself. She began taking lessons with Marina Kheifets at the age of five and won her first piano competition six months later.

In March 1999 Danae met Yehudi Menuhin at a concert at the Tonhalle in Düsseldorf, where she observed one of the dress rehearsals and was invited to play for him. Menuhin was so impressed that he offered her to support her musical education. Although very young, Danae was lareday fascinated by music and its expressive potential. Unfortunately, Mr. Menuhin died soon after, unexpectedly, in Berlin.

At the end of 2002, Danae took part in a master class with the renowned pedagogue Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, who offered her a place in his regular class. She continued to study with Kämmerling until his death in 2012 and now continues her education with famous pianist Lars Vogt.