I prefer direct contact with other musicians through my instrument. Although I now have a more comprehensive picture of a composition than I did 20 years ago, I have no wish to exert control over a performance. The best results come when each musician feels invited to take part in an interpretation, the communication taking place through the musical flow.
Present-day
Soloist
Arcanto-Quartett
Professor for Viola at the Academy of Music “Hanns Eisler” Berlin
Artist in Residence in Hamburg with Ensemble Resonanz (2013-2015)
Foundation Board Member of the Hindemith Foundation Blonay/Switzerland
Chairwoman of the Board of the Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Early years and education
A career should never develop faster than one’s inner growth. Aspects like sound and tonal volume need their time to be developed. This isn’t just a question of the hands and musculature or of techniques. The imagination must develop as well.
1966
born October 8th in Lahr/Black Forest
1969
started playing the viola with Dietmar Mantel, Music School Lahr
1971
started playing the piano with Klaus Rupprecht, individually
1979-1986
Viola studies at the University of Music Freiburg with Ulrich Koch
1986-1987
continued studies with Sandor Végh at Mozarteum Salzburg
Competitions
All too often a young competition winner is taken up by an agency as the ‘new star’; the publicity machine starts rolling and the musician has to fulfill lots of engagements. He feels like a hamster in a wheel. Who can mature as an artist under such conditions? My advice to all young musicians is to trust their own instincts and allow themselves to grow. Only then is it possible for something out of the ordinary to happen.
1972
2. Prize Viola solo “Jugend musiziert” Germany
1974
1. Award Viola solo “Jugend musiziert” Germany
1. Award Instrumental Cooperation “Jugend musiziert” (Trio) Germany
1976
1. Award Viola solo “Jugend musiziert” Germany
2. Prize Chambermusic String Instruments “Jugend musiziert” (Trio) Germany
1978
1. Award Viola solo “Jugend musiziert” Germany
1980
1. Award String trio “Jugend musiziert” Germany
1982
1. Award Viola solo “Jugend musiziert” Germany
1982
1. Award at the Concours de Genève
1983
1. Award at the International Viola Competitions “Maurice Vieux” Paris, winning a Viola from Étienne Vatelot which she is playing still today
1984
1. Award Budapest Music Competitions
Teaching
I take a lot of trouble to create a spirit of community in my classes, so my students recognize that they are all individuals and don’t compete and measure themselves against one another.
1987-1989
youngest professor in Germany at the Hochschule für Musik Saar Saarbrücken
1994
professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt/Main
since 2002
professor at the Academy of Music “Hanns Eisler” Berlin
Awards
2014
Echo Klassik as intrumentalist of the year for her CD with compositions of Hindemith Vol. 1 for viola and orchestra
2014
Honorary Membership in the AVS – American Viola Society
2012
Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg
2010
Echo Klassik as instrumentalist of the year for her solo-CD with compositions of Reger and Bach
2009
Order or Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia
2006
Paul Hindemith Award of the city of Hanau
2002
Hessian Culture Award (Hessischer Kulturpreis)
1999
Rheingau Music Award
Würth Award of Jeunesses Musicales Germany
1997
International Award of the Accademia Musicale Chigiana Siena
1995
Frankfurt Music Prize
Artist in Residence
The chance to be artist in residence entails being able to risk a more varied program.
2013-2015
with Ensemble Resonanz, Hamburg
2012-2013
Bamberg Symphony
Mai 2012
Bodenseefestival
2009-2010
Elbe Philharmonic Orchestra Hamburg
2008
Kunstfest Weimar
2007-2008
Philharmonic Orchestra Luxemburg
2006-2007
Philharmonic Orchestra Cologne
1999
Cité de la Musique Paris
Memberships
2013
Member of the board of the Hindemith Stiftung Blonay/Switzerland
2013
Chairwoman of the board of the Beethoven-Haus, Bonn
2012
Member of the advisory board of the Musikkindergarten Berlin e.V.
2011
Member of the Academy of Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia
2011
Ambassador of the German Foundation for Children’s Hospices
Literature
Michael Wessel: Üben Proben Karriere – 12 Interpreten im Gespräch, Bärenreiter 2012
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