Freiburg University of Music

Founded in 1946 as a municipal institution and taken over by the Federal State of Baden in 1948, the Freiburg University of Music is one of the most renowned in Germany. It offers artistic and educational training across the entire breadth of musical vocations and the opportunity to study for a doctoral degree in the fields of Musicology and Music Education.

The Freiburg University of Music was originally distributed across several houses and villas in the old town, including the baroque Wentzingerhaus on Münsterplatz, one of Freiburg's most important listed buildings. In 1984 the University moved into a new build situated in the midst of a park-like facility in eastern Freiburg: flooded with light and characteristic in its architecture, featuring a folded facade designed to meet acoustic specifications and staggered floors connected by an airy foyer that serves as a centre of communication.

Students from around the world

An average of 550 students, of which just under half have come to Freiburg from around the world to study music, are instructed there by almost 200 teachers. In previous years these have included illustrious and internationally renowned artists, educators and scientists such as Swiss performer Aurèle Nicolet, the great violinist, conductor and composer Wolfgang Marschner, or stars like Edith Picht-Axenfeld, Robert Aitken, Robert Levin or Carl Seemann. Today, the classes of Rainer Kussmaul, Wolfram Christ, Jörg Widmann, Bernhard Wulff, Branimir Slokar, Bruno Schneider or Felix Renggli - to name but a few - include numerous successful students who have won significant international awards.

Successful careers through professional training

The Freiburg University of Music stands for a broad, profound education, as evidenced by the careers of graduates who have found success: pianist Bernd Glemser, violinist Daishin Kashimoto, viola player Tabea Zimmermann, vocalist Rachel Harnisch, composer Wolfgang Rihm, and not to forget the famous voices of Hildegard Behrens and Fritz Wunderlich.

Music to eyes and ears

The intensive practical work at the university is reflected in more than 450 concerts, opera performances and recital evenings a year, which are a firm part of concert life in the music city of Freiburg. The vocal and instrumental classes and the Institutes of Musical Theatre, of Historically Informed Performance, of Contemporary Music (with the Studio for Electronic Music) and the "Freiburg Academy for the Gifted" (Freiburger Akademie zur Begabtenförderung, FAB) all participate. Students are also involved in numerous university ensembles such as the "Freiburg Percussion Ensemble", the orchestra, the choir, the chamber orchestra, the chamber choir and the university Big Band, the "Schola Gregoriana" and the "Women's Schola Exsulta Sion Freiburg". In addition, internationally renowned musicians from among the teaching staff also take the podium in the concert hall, the chamber music hall, or the stages of various co-operation partners.