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Berliner Symphoniker ●
Ernst Reuter Saal
Conducting professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg Student achievement: Prize winners at the Malko Competition, La Maestra, and Fitelberg Competition; conductors of the Vancouver Symphony and major European orchestras.
Ulrich Windfuhr was born in Heidelberg in 1960 and studied conducting and music at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, continuing his education in Vienna and Italy on a DAAD scholarship. He worked with Franco Ferrara and attended master classes with leading conductors including Leonard Bernstein and Carlo Maria Giulini. Early recognition came through prizes at international conducting competitions such as the Vittorio Gui Competition (1985) and the János Ferencsik Competition (1986).
He began his professional career at Theater Dortmund in 1986 and subsequently held positions as Kapellmeister and director of studies in Augsburg and Nürnberg, as well as First Kapellmeister in Hannover. From 1998 to 2003, he served as Generalmusikdirektor of the Staatstheater Kiel, where he gained international attention for innovative productions of operas by Richard Strauss, Franz Schreker, and Richard Wagner. He has since appeared as principal and guest conductor with major opera houses and orchestras in Germany and abroad, with performances throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States.
His discography has received several prestigious distinctions, including the Diapason d’Or, Choc de la Musique, and Orphée d’Or, reflecting his reputation both as an interpreter of core repertoire and as an advocate for lesser-known works.
In 2007, he was appointed Professor of Conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig. Since 2013, he has held the Chair of Conducting and Orchestral Conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. In addition to his university appointments, he regularly gives international master classes and is actively engaged in the training of young conductors and orchestral musicians worldwide.
The Berliner Symphoniker has been a key part of Berlin’s cultural scene since 1990. Based mainly in the Berliner Philharmonie, the orchestra performs widely across Berlin and beyond, including the Konzerthaus, the University of the Arts, and regional venues like Chorin Abbey. Led by renowned chief conductors, it offers a diverse repertoire from classical masterpieces to contemporary works, with a strong focus on education through school and family concerts. With international tours across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, the Berliner Symphoniker continues to bring high-quality symphonic music to audiences at home and abroad.
Completed between 1930 and 1934, Berlin’s Kirche am Hohenzollernplatz is a masterpiece of Brick Expressionism. Designed by Ossip Klarwein and Fritz Höger, the structure features a dark clinker brick exterior and a 66-meter tower. Inside, thirteen massive reinforced concrete parabolic arches create a 20-meter-high nave, blending industrial innovation with Gothic verticality.
The church’s history is poignant: Klarwein fled Nazi Germany shortly after its completion, and Allied bombs later gutted the interior. Rebuilt post-war, the church now features vibrant stained-glass by Achim Freyer. Today, this protected monument is a cultural hub, celebrated for its "NoonSong" liturgies and avant-garde Weimar-era soul.
Located in the heart of Berlin-Reinickendorf, the Ernst-Reuter-Saal is a distinguished cultural venue within the district’s historic town hall complex. Inaugurated in 1957 and named after West Berlin’s post-war mayor, the hall reflects the modernist architectural style of the period. Following the destruction of the old Philharmonie during World War II, the Berlin Philharmonic relied on the Ernst-Reuter-Saal as one of its primary venues until the completion of the Hans Scharoun-designed Philharmonie in 1963. Under Herbert von Karajan, the orchestra also used the hall for recordings, valued for its exceptional acoustic clarity and controlled reverberation.
Renowned for its warm and balanced acoustics, the hall features a spacious interior that supports both orchestral and chamber music performances. With a capacity of approximately 725 seats, it has hosted classical concerts, jazz performances, and a wide range of cultural events over the decades. Today, the Ernst-Reuter-Saal continues to combine historical significance with excellent acoustics, making it one of Berlin’s most important concert venues.
Location: Kirche am Hohenzollernplatz, Berlin
Orchestra: Berliner Symphoniker
Final concert venue: Ernst Reuter Saal
No age limit.
Scholarship opportunities are available.
Business exchange option available (see below).
REGISTRATION
Registration fee: €50 (non-refundable).
The registration fee must be paid within 7 days of submitting the application form.
We will not proceed with the application if this fee is not received.
Application deadline: May 31th.
Results will be announced early June 2026.
After acceptance, confirmation of participation and payment of the participation fees must be completed within 7 days of receiving the notification. Installment payments or alternative payment dates must be arranged by email.
PARTICIPATION CATEGORIES AND FEES
(The following fees are to be paid after confirmation of placement.)
●Active participant: €1950 (10 conductors)
Each active participant will receive:
– 3 individual lessons with Prof. Windfuhr
– 60 minutes of podium time with the Berliner Symphoniker
– An additional 60–120 minutes of podium time may be available with another academy orchestra under certain conditions. This will be discussed and confirmed around early June.
●Passive participant: €450 (5 conductors)
Each passive participant will receive:
– 1 individual lesson with Prof. Windfuhr
– 5 minutes of podium time with the Berliner Symphoniker
-The right to observe all lessons at the academy.
Feedback sessions will be offered after podium time.
Any additional lesson with Prof. Windfuhr will be charged at €250 per lesson.
●Observer: €200
Observers may attend all lessons, rehearsals and concerts.
If the schedule allows, observers can take private lessons with Prof. Windfuhr without podium time, at €250 per lesson.
If a conducting student has applied and paid the €50 registration fee but is not selected for either active or passive participation, the remaining observer fee will be €150.
PROGRAM
Concertos
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
(or Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129)
Overtures
Beethoven: Overture to “Coriolan”, Op. 62
Mozart: Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro”
Rossini: Overture to “The Barber of Seville”
Mendelssohn: The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26
VENUE
All lessons and rehearsals will take place at Kirche am Hohenzollernplatz, Berlin.
VIDEO RECORDING
A high-resolution professional video recording will be provided for the final concert, suitable for competition, audition, and professional portfolio use.
BUSINESS EXCHANGE OPTION (COST REDUCTION)
If a conducting student already has a connection with another professional orchestra and is able to invite one of our collaborating soloists to perform with that orchestra, a reduction of the participation fee may be discussed individually. The application may be given priority, but the confirmation of the collaboration needs to be finalized and the deposit paid before 1 June 2026.
PROMOTION & ARTIST MATERIALS
The concert will be promoted through an official event poster featuring all participating conductors. In addition, each participant will receive an individually designed artist poster featuring their portrait, repertoire, and orchestra. This will be used for artist profile promotion across our social media channels and may also be used for personal promotion, portfolio submissions, and professional presentation in future engagements.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT VALUE
This opportunity is designed to provide participants with a professional-level orchestral performance experience in Berlin, supporting their development toward international competitions, conservatory applications, and early career positioning.
We warmly welcome all talented musicians to join us, allowing us to recognize your artistry firsthand. Exceptional students will be integrated into our Internal Artist Pool for potential paid project engagements and professional collaborations in the future, including performance projects at the Berliner Philharmonie.