NEC Artist Diploma Candidate Korbinian Altenberger Wins Concertmaster Chair of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
Korbinian Altenberger (Susan Wilson photo)
For Immediate Release:
March 9, 2007
NEC violinist Korbinian Altenberger ’05 G.D. ’07 A.D. has been named to the Concertmaster’s chair of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne (also known as the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra). The 25-year old, a student of Donald Weilerstein, returned from Germany this week after triumphing in the auditions. He is expected to graduate from NEC’s prestigious Artist Diploma program in May, and will perform his Artists Diploma concert, March 27 at 8 p.m. in NEC’s Jordan Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.
Founded in 1947 by the Allied occupation authorities after World War II, the WDR Symphony is renowned for its performances of contemporary music. Currently under the music direction of Semyon Bychkov, the orchestra has been lead by such admired conductors as Hans Vonk and Christoph von Dohnanyi. A look at this season’s repertory shows a fascinating mix of classic works and compositions by John Adams, Elliott Carter, Magnus Lindberg, Henri Dutilleux, and Luciano Berio. Guest conductors include Neeme Järvi, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and Stefan Asbury.
A native of Hechendorf, Germany (a small town about 40 minutes southwest of Munich), Altenberger received his Graduate Diploma from NEC in 2005 and then was selected to enter the Artist Diploma program—NEC’s most prestigious degree--which focuses on developing the artistry and professionalism of the performing artist. He is the recipient of the Laurence Lesser Presidential Scholarship.
Altenberger was the winner of the Philadelphia-based Astral Artistic Services' 2005 National Auditions and joined its artist roster. This year, Astral has featured him on its concert series in both Philadelphia and New York.
Recipient of numerous awards, the violinist received First Prize and the Audience Choice award from Munich’s Jacob Stainer Violin Competition in 1999 and was the first-prize recipient of Italy’s Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in 2002, where he was also awarded a special prize for his performance of Bach. In 2005, he received the Theodor-Rogler-Foundation special prize for “best interpretation of the commissioned piece,” at the ARD International Competition in Munich and the audience prize at the Tibor Vargas International Violin Competition in Switzerland. He has also won prizes at New Zealand’s International Michael Hill Competition, the Concertino Praga International Competition, and the Jugend Musiziert National Violin Competition.
At the age of 22, Altenberger served as concertmaster of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under Mariss Jansons. He has also appeared as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia, Munich Philharmonic, Halle Philharmonic, Göttingen Symphony Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Kassel Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, Bad Reichenall Philharmonic, and the New England Conservatory Chamber Orchestra. The violinist has played before the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and participated in the Music at Menlo Festival, the Steans Institute, and was a member of the Rheinische Streicher Akademie, where he performed with members of the Melos Quartet and the Berlin Philharmonic. The violinist is an Artist in Residence at the State Orchestra of Eisenach, Germany, where he will be soloist in twelve concerts throughout the Orchestra’s 2006-2007 season. He also gives upcoming solo concerts in France, Austria, and Italy.
For more information on the NEC Artist Diploma program, visit the NEC Website
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Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 750 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world. Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide. Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.
The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions. On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors. Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes—thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.
NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year, many of them in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 100-year old, beautifully restored concert hall. These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes. Every year, NEC’s opera studies department also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.
NEC is co-founder and educational partner of “From the Top,” a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by National Public Radio and is heard on 250 stations throughout the United States.
Contact: Ellen Pfeifer
Public Relations Manager
New England Conservatory
617-585-1143
epfeifer@newenglandconservatory.edu