Jury 2023

Hendrik Vestmann
Jens Björn-Larsen
Ian Leslie Bousfield
Mark David
Reinhold Friedrich
Dietmar Küblböck
Joseph Skillen
Raimund Wippermann

Hendrik Vestmann

Conductor

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

Jens Björn-Larsen

Tuba

He was born in 1965 in Denmark. Björn-Larsen belongs to a small group of world-wide reknown solo tubists and is a highly respected and successful teacher for brass instruments. He has been awarded with many prizes, amongst others the first prize in the Nordic Competition of Soloists, the Victor Borge Prize and the Concours d’Exécution Musicale in Geneva.

After playing 20 years as a solo tubist he left 2005 the Danish National Symphony Orchestra in order to be able to dedicate himself exclusively to teaching and to a soloist career performing with leading orchestras in the world.

Jens Björn-Larsen is professor for tuba at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover and is also teaching at the Royal Danish Music Conservatory in Copenhagen as well as at the Music Academy in Malmö.

He is regularly giving master courses in the United States, Japan and in many European countries. Björn-Larsen is B & S Melton artist.

Ian Leslie Bousfield

Trombone

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.

Mark David

Trumpet

Mark David has enjoyed a distinguished career as a performer in some of the most prestigious ensembles of the world. He was principal trumpet in the Philharmonic orchestra for more than 20 years and is currently principal trumpet of the Academy of St Martin in the Fieldsand a member of the Nash Ensemble.

His discography as a symphonic trumpeter is extensive and wide-ranging. He combines his performing activities with a busy schedule as a teacher and clinician, and his former students populate prominent positions around the world. Alongside his performing schedule, Mark’s leadership as an artistic director and head of brass at the Royal Academy of Music, has positioned the brass department as one of the foremost in the world and his former students occupy positions in orchestras worldwide. Mark is also active as a brass clinician and a pedagogue. Recent master classes have included visits to the USA, Austria, China, Germany, Switzerland, Finland and France.

Reinhold Friedrich

Trumpet

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.

Dietmar Küblböck

Trombone

Dietmar Küblböck, born 8th of June 1963 in Linz, is principal trombonist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Professor at the University for music and performing arts Vienna.

At the age of 14 Dietmar Küblböck began his trombone studies with his father Horst Küblböck at the conservatory of Vienna. Four years later in 1981 he became solo trombonist with the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra but only remained there for one year in order to accept the same position with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. This engagement ended after 17 years. Since February 1999 he is solo trombonist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

He is furthermore a member of the ensemble Concentus Musicus Vienna, of the Vienna trombone quartet as well as of the Clemencic Consort. He also plays with the Richard Österreicher Big Band and with Jazz musicians at the project Trombone Odyssee.

In 1997 he took over a guest professorship for trombone at the University of music and performing Graz, where he became a full professor in October 1999. On July 1st 2002 he joined the University of Music and performing arts Vienna.

Joseph Skillen

Tuba

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.

Raimund Wippermann

Raimund Wippermann studied music teaching, sacred music and choirmaster at the University of Music in Cologne and Duesseldorf. Postgraduate studies at the conservatory in Stockholm followed (amongst others with Professor Eric Ericson); several years’ engagement as church musician; 1991 appointment as Director of Music at the dome in Essen where he was entrusted with the direction of the dome choir and the formation of the girls’ choir.

Since 1997 is Raimund Wippermann professor for choir conducting at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf where he already started as a teacher in 1990. A special emphasis of his work as professor is the choir master teaching of students of sacred music.

Since August 2004 he has been the director of the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf.

Raimund Wippermann is the founder and artistic director of the chamber choir Cantemus. From 1995 until September 2000 he was also choir master of the Städtischer Musikverein in Düsseldorf.

He has been a prize winner of the German choir competition with his chamber choir Cantemus in 1990 in Stuttgart and the first price in the 8th German choir competition 2010 with his girl choir of the Dome in Essen.