Study Information Week in February

Once a year, the University of the Arts Bremen offers all prospective musicians who are interested in studying at the University of the Arts Bremen a Study Information Week, giving you the opportunity to discover our range of courses first-hand and make direct contact with the teaching staff.

Receive private lessons and individual guidance from our main subject teachers, experience open class lessons, rehearsals and tuition, and enjoy numerous concerts, exhibitions and events across the entire range of degree courses and disciplines at HfK Bremen. The next Study Information Week takes place from 2nd to 8th February 2009! Registration for the Study Information Week closes on 26/01/2009. There is no fee for attending the Study Information Week.

Showcase for Creativity: University of the Arts Open Days

The University of the Arts stands for exceptional teaching and artistic training for students from around the world. But it is also an important cultural organisation in Bremen and for the entire region. With approximately 300 concerts, exhibitions, lectures, workshops and symposia a year, the University of the Arts contributes significantly to the city's cultural life.

One of the highlights are the University's regular University Open Days in February. Over a long weekend, the University of the Arts opens all its doors to visitors. Last year, over 8000 interested and enthusiastic people experienced the entire creative diversity of the University - from a gamba consort to a jazz session, from a grand orchestra concert to chamber music and contemporary composition. Also involved were of course artists, painters, product designers, video artists, photographers, film makers and fashion designers of the Faculty of Art and Design. By the way: the next University Open Days at the University of the Arts will take place from 13th to 15th February 2009.

When Musicians and Artists ...

A young but wonderful tradition at the University of the Arts: once a year, instrumentalists and singers, artists and designers take to the stage for a few weeks - at the Theater Bremen. In the first section: rehearsal stage, costume making, painter's workshop. In the second: orchestra pit and main stage. Then artistic forces are joined to produce an opera and put on several performances. Singers and actors - students at the University of the Arts; orchestra - students at the University of the Arts; backdrops - students at the University of the Arts; costumes - students at the University of the Arts. Following successes with Johann Strauß' "Die Fledermaus", Mozart's "The Magic Flute" or Britten's "Turn of the Screw", in 2008 the students took on Jacques Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld". The result: thundering applause, well-filled house, enthusiastic reviews. And an excellent opportunity for the students to gain valuable experience for their later careers working with experienced theatre people under professional conditions.

Award-winning: Early Music

Harry van der Kamp, Hille Perl, Stephen Stubbs, Manfred Cordes, Thomas Albert, Detlef Bratschke - to name but a few. Early music and its historically informed performance are in internationally recognised good hands at the University of the Arts. And because we don't like to sing our own praises, we'll leave that to neutral experts such as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the German Phono Academy or the editors of respected specialist publication fono forum. They for example nominate CD recordings featuring teachers and also students of the university for a "Grammy". Or give them awards, such as the "Echo", or name them as "Record of the Month".

One, Two, Three, Four - the University Jazz Club

Unique among universities in Germany are the university-owned jazz club and the University of the Arts Big Band, which rehearses weekly. Every Tuesday, the venerable arches in Dechanatstraße swing, feet tap, fingers snap, hips shake - the University Jazz Club has many fans, not just among students but throughout the city. Numerous graduates of the University of the Arts have meanwhile documented their artistic quality and professionalism in the shape of CD productions, and are much in demand as musicians throughout Germany. Several students have already received scholarships, have been invited to join Peter Herbolzheimer's Bundesjugendjazzorchester (the German Youth Jazz Orchestra), or now work as respected instrumental teachers.

A Capella: Choir Work at the University

Rehearsals take place - weekly, of course! And a work- and rehearsal-laden weekend also has to be invested. The members of the Great University Choir do it. And they are happy to. It's worth the effort, and it's also fun. The Great University Choir has made a name for itself in Bremen's nightlife over the past semesters thanks to its broad repertoire, which has included "King David" by Arthur Honegger, W. A. Mozart's "Requiem", "Alexander's Feast" by Georg Friedrich Händel and a "Gloria" programme with works by Monteverdi, Britten and Rutter. Ambitious vocalists of the Great University Choir have meanwhile created a further, smaller ensemble, the Chamber Choir. The aim of the Chamber Choir is to develop complex a capella choir literature and works for smaller casts. In May 2006, the Chamber Choir won 2nd Prize in the "Mixed Choirs" category at the German Choir Competition in Kiel.

The University of the Arts does Childcare: Elementary Music Training

Old dogs can't learn new tricks? No, it's never to late to fall in love with music. On the one hand. On the other hand: the earlier and more playfully children discover sound and rhythm, instruments and their own voice, the more naturally and powerfully will music take an enduring place in their lives. Music education starts at the crawling and kindergarten stage!

"Amadeo" is the name of a project with which the University of the Arts and other partners are drawing the right conclusions from this understanding. Teachers from the discipline "Elementary Music Education" and Bremen's Catholic congregation aim to jointly develop the music profile kindergarten "Amadeo". Next year, regular musical offerings with movement, singing, dance and rhythm instruments are to be added to the range of activities available to the 60 three- to six-year-old children. Students at the University of the Arts will also regularly perform small concerts at the day care centre, sing with the children or introduce them to various instruments. It is first and foremost the children who benefit from dedicated and methodically sound early music education, while parents and nursery teachers receive qualified music teaching advice and further training. And the university's students also benefit - from the opportunity to combine practical experience and educational training.

Award-winning: VIER - the Magazine of the University of the Arts

"Identity", "Young Artists", "Self-Employment" - topics that encourage contemplation, conversation, association and discussion. When VIER, the magazine of the University of the Arts, takes on these topics, the result is clearly prize-worthy: IF Design Award, "Certificate of Typographic Excellence" of the Type Directors Club, or Best of Corporate Publishing Award (BCP Award) - VIER has won them all, some of them repeatedly. In 2008 it was the BCP Award in Gold, among others. By the way: among a total of 660 entered publications, the University of the Arts was the only university to win a prize in the highly respected contest.

Festival and Competition: bremen guitar art 2009

The preparations are in full swing, guitarists of international renown have been enlisted, the registration period for participants has begun:
The master and study course "bremen guitar art" will take place at the University of the Arts Bremen for the 7th time from 20th to 22nd March 2009.

Bremen guitar art (bga) is the high-calibre offering in northern Germany for professional music students and guitar teachers, but also for guitar players from intermediate level onwards. bga 2009 will offer interpretation and improvisation, master classes and study courses to introduce the University, and a wide range of information on training as a concert guitarist, guitar teacher or music teacher. Or simply an entire weekend full of live guitar music! The Gitarrengalerie Bremen Prize will be awarded at bremen guitar art for the first time in the course of a guitar competition for young musicians between 16 and 20 years of age.