The musicians

The musicians of the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra

As freelance musicians the members of the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra have a whole range of different backgrounds. Many of them play in other major ensembles, notably those dedicated to early music, others are soloists in their own right or belong to chamber music formations. Some pass on their skills to younger generations as teachers. Many of the musicians have been successful in international competitions.

Most of them have already gleaned experience with „authentic“ performance styles in other ensembles, while some are conversant not only with the modern versions of their instruments but also with their historical predecessors. The brass and timpani players of the orchestra are in fact specialists in this field as in the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra the brass and timpani parts are invariably entrusted to original instruments.

Alongside their duties as musicians, some of the long-standing members also fulfill other functions in the orchestra as the Heidelberg Symphony does almost all its management and administration work itself.

Violins

  • Benjamin Spillner (concert master)
  • Ariane Volm (orchestra recruiting office)
  • Monika Beck (concert acquisition)
  • Friedemann Kienzle
  • Silke Maurer
  • Liuba Petrova
  • Jochen Steyer (Sponsorship)
  • Ulrich Zimmer (Logistics/Stagemanagement)
  • Petra Wolff
  • Britta Zeus (Tickets, Service)

Viola

  • Annette Hartmann (solo)
  • Thomas Gerlinger
  • Yuichi Yazaki

Violoncello

  • Pirkko Langer (solo)
  • Bianca Breitfeld
  • Jutta Neuhaus

Double Bass

  • Michael Neuhaus (solo; Management)
  • Michael Tkacz

Flute

  • Karin Geyer (solo)
  • Vaness Hepers

Oboe

  • Andrius Puskunigis (solo)
  • Antoine Cottinet

Clarinet

  • Martin Vogel (solo)
  • Matthias Ritter

Bassoon

  • Carl von Houwald (solo)

French horn

  • Thorsten Hagedorn (solo)
  • Christoph Thelen

Trumpet

  • Michael Maisch (solo)

Timpani

  • Peter Hartmann