Stefan Schulz

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Stefan Schulz first played horn and later switched to the trombone. He studied with Harald Winkler and Joachim Mittelacher in Berlin as well as Charles G. Vernon in Chicago. Before becoming a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker in 2002, Schulz was bass trombonist of the Berlin Staatskapelle from 1993 to 2002 and taught in its Orchestra Academy. This pedagogical activity laid the foundation for further teaching positions and professorships: at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hanover, at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin (2000-04) and at Berlin’s Universitaet der Kuenste (since 2004). In 2005 he was appointed Professor h.c. at the University of Shanghai. He regularly holds master classes in Europe, Asia and Central America as well as at the Julliard School of Music in New York.

With an increasing demand to play as soloist Stefan Schulz has performed with various European orchestras among them the Ensemble Madrid-Berlin, Staatsorchester Wiesbaden, Brandenburger Symphoniker and the Philharmonia Wien. A regular player in the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra from 1996 to 2002, Stefan Schulz also performs in various chamber-music groups, including the Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble and the Daniel Schnyder Trio. He also plays as a regular guest with the German Brass Ensemble.

 In search of new repertoire Stefan Schulz puts one focus on contemporary music. In Daniel Schnyder, the Swiss composer and saxophone player, he has found the perfect musical counterpart. Among teaming up on various chamber music programs, like „Worlds beyond“ or „Around the World“, Schnyder’s virtuous trombone concerto „subZERO“ is one of the core pieces of Schulz’s repertoire. He’s performed this concerto’s premiere in Germany, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In September 2008 Stefan Schulz has performed Schnyder’s piece 'roTor' for bass trombone and orchestra with the New York ‚Absolute Ensemble’ conducted by Kristjan Järvi at the prestigious Bremer Musikfest.

 Another concerto for bass trombone by Daniel Schnyder, dedicated to Stefan Schulz had its world premiere in December 2008 and will be recorded in spring 2010. Another new trombone concerto written for Stefan Schulz by Danish composer Poul Ruders was premiered in June 2009 with the Aarhus Sinfonietta.

 A DVD featuring the Daniel Schnyder Trio is due to be released in autumn 2009. Currently Stefan Schulz is working on his first Solo-CD.