Jury 2023

Hendrik Vestmann is an Estonian conductor born 30 April 1974.

Born in Tartu, Vestmann studied choral direction drom 1992 to 1996 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn, He was subsequently employed as a conductor at the Vanemuine Theatre and Opera House in Tartu, southern Estonia.

At the turn of the millennium, Vestmann went to Germanz. From 2000 to 2002, he studied with Wolf/Dieter Hauschild at the Hochschule f[r Musik Karlsruhe. From 2002 to 2004, Vestmann was Solo repetiteur and conductor at the Theater & Orchester Heidelberg.

in 2004/2005, Vestmann was General Music Director at the Vanemuine Theatre and Opera House in Tartu. Since September 2006, Vestmann has been first Kapellmeister and deputy General Music Director at the Städtische Bühnen Münster.

Since the 2013/2014 season, Vestmann has been chief conductor of the Bonn Opera. Since 2016/2017 season, he has been appointed General Music Director of the Staatstheater in Oldenburg.

In May 2006 Vestmann won he Hermann Abendroth Prize in Weimar. In the same year he was awarded the special prize pf the Dirigentenforum

Ian Bousfield, born 16 February 1964, York, UK, is an English musician, who has held positions as Principal Trombone with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra. Also a pedagogue, Bousfield is an instructor in the music division at the Hochschule der Künste in Bern, Switzerland. In 1979, Bousfield became the youngest winner of the Shell / London Symphony Orchestra Music Scholarship.

In 1980 Bousfield joined the European Union Youth Orchestra, where he spent two years under the baton of Claudio Abbado. In 1988 at the age of 24 years Bousfield was appointed principal trombonist of the London Symphony Orchestra.

In 1999 he won an audition for the principal trombone position with the Vienne State Opera / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, where he performed until leaving in 2012 to devote more time to his teaching and solo careers.

Bousfield was appointed professor for trombone at the Royal Academy of Music in 1992, and has since been awarded Honorary Membership. In 2011, he began teaching at the Hochschule der Künste in Bern, Switzerland.

Reinhold Friedrich, born on 14th July 1958 in Weingarten / Baden, is one of the most famous trumpeters of our time. From 1983 to 1999 Reinhold Friedrich was Solo trumpet at the Radio Symphony Orchestra Frankfurt. He was a prize winner of the International Music Competition of the ARD in Munich in 1986. Since 1989 he is professor for trumpet at the Music Academy in Karlsruhe. Reinhold Friedrich is the worldwide sought-after lecturer for masterclasses and honorary professor at the Royal Academy of London, at the Sibelius Academy Helsinki, in Hiroshima, Japan as well as the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid, the only private Music Academy which is offering a chamber class for wind instruments.

Friedrich’s former students are prize winners of many international competitions and have leading positions in big orchestras worldwide. A growing number are meanwhile holding positions as professors at music academies.

Joseph Skillen is chair and professor of music at the college of arts and architecture in Charlotte / North Carolina.

Joseph Skillen has come to the university of North Carolina Charlotte after 22 years at Louisana State University, where he served in numerous capacities.

He has been a finalist and winner in both American and international solo competitions including winning the first prize at the prestigious 1992 Leonard Falcone Festival.

Skillen is a respective performer, teacher and scholar. His scholarly work includes more than 40 publications. Prior to his engagement at LSU, Skillen was a principal tubist in American orchestras, and he has performed with touring ensembles across the United States, Europe, and Asia. His performances have been broadcast in the U.S. on National Public Radio and on Sweden’s National Radio. He holds degrees in music education and music performance from Tennessee Technological University, Pennsylvania State University, and Michigan State University.