2026 Berlin-Bechstein Summer Academy
organizer
course
2026 Berlin-Bechstein Summer Academy
format
Solo (Masterclass)
Chamber Music (Masterclass)
Orchestra (Youth Orchestra)
Workshop
instruments
Bassoon • Cello • Clarinet • Conductor • Double Bass • Flute • French Horn • Harp • Oboe • Percussion • Piano • Saxophone • Trombone • Trumpet • Tuba • Viola • Violin
application deadline
July 15, 2026 23:59 (Berlin)
event dates
August 11 - August 17, 2026
Location
Carl Bechstein Saal
Brunsbütteler Damm 136a,
13581 Berlin, Germany
contact details
email: [email protected]
website
2026 Berlin-Bechstein Summer Academy
From academy to Berlin stage.
Perform with a professional orchestra in Berlin.
Step onto a stage once led by Karajan.
In collaboration with the Berlin-Bechstein Stiftung.
Full Scholarship deadline: June 30th
Several classes are nearly full. Early confirmation is recommended.
Date: August 11–17, 2026
Location: Carl Bechstein Saal, Berlin, Germany
Professors:
Piano: Markus Groh, Ilja Scheps, Gerrit Zitterbart, Konrad Maria Engel, Eldar Nebolsin (Online)
Chamber Music / Accompanying: Boris Kusnezow
Strings: Mark Gothoni, Boris Garlitsky, Tomasz Tomaszewski, Stephan Picard (Online), Eszter Haffner, Hartmut Rohde (Online), Troels Svane, Paolo Bonomini
Conducting: Ulrich Windfuhr (Registration closed)
Orchestras: Berliner Symphoniker | Berlin Academy Chamber Orchestra | Neue Sinfonieorchester Berlin (Registration closed)
Registration: from €450
Final Deadline:
Piano & String: July 15th
More info: https://berlinbechsteinsummer.com/
Perform with a professional orchestra in Berlin.
Step onto a stage once led by Karajan.
In collaboration with the Berlin-Bechstein Stiftung.
Full Scholarship deadline: June 30th
Several classes are nearly full. Early confirmation is recommended.
Date: August 11–17, 2026
Location: Carl Bechstein Saal, Berlin, Germany
Professors:
Piano: Markus Groh, Ilja Scheps, Gerrit Zitterbart, Konrad Maria Engel, Eldar Nebolsin (Online)
Chamber Music / Accompanying: Boris Kusnezow
Strings: Mark Gothoni, Boris Garlitsky, Tomasz Tomaszewski, Stephan Picard (Online), Eszter Haffner, Hartmut Rohde (Online), Troels Svane, Paolo Bonomini
Conducting: Ulrich Windfuhr (Registration closed)
Orchestras: Berliner Symphoniker | Berlin Academy Chamber Orchestra | Neue Sinfonieorchester Berlin (Registration closed)
Registration: from €450
Final Deadline:
Piano & String: July 15th
More info: https://berlinbechsteinsummer.com/
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*Fully Booked – Waitlist Open
Piano Professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin
1st prize winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition
Student achievement: Success at international competitions such as Busoni, Telekom Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Aarhus, with recordings on major labels including Sony Classical and Naxos.
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Piano Professor at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin
Prize winner at the Bach Competition Leipzig, and First Prize at the International Chopin Competition in Hanover.
Student Achievements: Prizewinners at the Sendai (Japan), Aarhus (Denmark), and Mendelssohn (Berlin) competitions.
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*Online lessons are available
Piano professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln
Piano professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln
Jury of the International Competition
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*Online lessons are available
Former Piano/Fortepiano Professor at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover
Former Piano/Fortepiano Professor at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover
Recipient of the “Choc” award from Le Monde de la Musique, France. 5-time recipient of the 'Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik' (Trio).
Student achievement: Success at the prestigious competitions such as Tchaikovsky, Geneva and Rubinstein competition.
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Piano Chamber Music Professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig
Official Pianist of the Queen Elisabeth, ARD, and Joseph Joachim competitions
Student Achievements: Prizewinners at the International Chamber Music (Leipzig), and Lyon (France) competitions.
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Piano professor at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin
Sviatoslav Richter International Piano Competition First Prize and Gold Medal
Sudent achievement: Prize winners at the Chopin Competition, ARD Competition, Geneva Competition
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*Limited Spots Remaining
Violin Professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin
Jyväskylä Arts Festival “Debut of the Year” (1991)
Student Achievements: Prizewinners at the Ibolyka Gyarfas (Berlin), Anton Rubinstein (Düsseldorf), and Karol Lipiński (Poland) competitions
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*Online lessons are available
Violin Professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin
Violin Professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin
Student achievements: Concertmaster and member of the Berliner Philharmoniker; 1st prize winner of the Paganini Competition
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*Limited Spots Remaining
Violin Professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris, Folkwang Universität der Künste
Violin Professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris, Folkwang Universität der Künste
1st prize winner of the Paganini Competition
Violin professor at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin
First Prize at the Maria Canals International Music Competition
Sudent achievement: Prize winners at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, member of the Berliner Philharmoniker
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Violin/Viola Professor at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien
Golden Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria
Student Achievements: Members of the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Dresden Philharmonic.
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Viola professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin
Student achievements: Member of the Berliner Philharmoniker; winners of the Max Rostal Competition and Prague Spring Competition
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*Online lessons are available
Cello professor at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin, Musikhochschule Lübeck
Cello professor at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin, Musikhochschule Lübeck
Sudent achievement: Prize winners at the Tchaikovsky Competition, ARD Competition, Geneva Competition; Berliner Philharmoniker member
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Cello professor at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold
Sudent achievement: received prizes at international competitions and have obtained positions in orchestras and academies across Europe.
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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.
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Registration for the conducting class with the Berliner Symphoniker has now closed. However, we are offering one additional special orchestral conducting opportunity for a conductor who would still like to study with Prof. Windfuhr.
More info
Registration for the conducting class with the Berliner Symphoniker has now closed. However, we are offering one additional special orchestral conducting opportunity for a conductor who would still like to study with Prof. Windfuhr.
The conductor may choose one of the following works from our concerto concert with the Berlin Academy Chamber Orchestra and the Neues Sinfonieorchester Berlin on 16.08 at 14:00 at the Ernst Reuter Saal to study with Prof. Windfuhr.
The basic registration fee is €450, which includes one lesson and administrative costs, plus €1,000 as the orchestra share cost. Additional lessons are possible at €250 per lesson.
This opportunity will only be granted if both Prof. Windfuhr and the soloist of the chosen work approve the conductor’s profile and suitability for the selected work.
Berlin Academy Chamber Orchestra:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219 – II. Adagio
Franz Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata for Cello and String Orchestra – III. Allegretto
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 – First Movement
Neues Sinfonieorchester Berlin
This opportunity will only be granted if both Prof. Windfuhr and the soloist of the chosen work approve the conductor’s profile and suitability for the selected work.
Berlin Academy Chamber Orchestra:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219 – II. Adagio
Franz Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata for Cello and String Orchestra – III. Allegretto
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 – First Movement
Neues Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Henryk Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 – III. Allegro con fuoco – Allegro moderato (à la Zingara)
Giacomo Puccini: “Mi chiamano Mimì” from La Bohème
Giacomo Puccini: “Donde lieta uscì” from La Bohème
Édouard Lalo: Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21 – 1st movement
Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major – III. Presto
Édouard Lalo: Cello Concerto in D minor
For this opportunity, please write to [email protected] and indicate your preferred concerto work.
If you would like to receive updates on Prof. Windfuhr’s 2027 masterclass dates, please subscribe here.
Giacomo Puccini: “Mi chiamano Mimì” from La Bohème
Giacomo Puccini: “Donde lieta uscì” from La Bohème
Édouard Lalo: Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21 – 1st movement
Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major – III. Presto
Édouard Lalo: Cello Concerto in D minor
For this opportunity, please write to [email protected] and indicate your preferred concerto work.
If you would like to receive updates on Prof. Windfuhr’s 2027 masterclass dates, please subscribe here.
Registration for the 2026 Orchestral Soloist Program at the Berlin-Bechstein Summer Academy is currently closed. However, if you would like to be informed about our winter and summer dates for 2027, please feel free to subscribe here.
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