Management Board

Prof. Dr. Tobias Bleek

Education Klavierfestival Ruhr

"In my work for the Ruhr Piano Festival's education program, I experience anew every day the energy that can be released when people and institutions join forces and work together on an equal footing. It goes without saying that this also creates friction. In my opinion, folkwang junior's idea of promoting young talent together with the music schools is a very promising approach. I am excited to see how this process will develop and look forward to accompanying it on the advisory board."

Prof. Dr. Tobias Esch

Music medicine

"As a musician since childhood and someone who once had to (and was allowed to!) choose between studying music and studying medicine - whereby the choice fell on the latter in view of my own talent - the interface between these two areas has never left me. I joined the German Society for Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine back in the 1990s and have always remained connected to the subject, both in research and in practice. What's more, I see the area of self-management and stress regulation (resilience) in the context of music practice as a fundamental part of healing, prevention and health promotion, including both receptive and active music practice. The skills for this cannot be taught early enough!"

Frank Müller

Member of the State Parliament - Cultural and educational policy

"In order for special talents to become a blessing and not a burden, young talents need targeted promotion and support. There is a lot of this talent here in our region. And they are often to be found where they are least expected! Discovering and developing them is an important and responsible task. I am happy to support folkwang junior in this important work and in networking with the many players in our region in order to promote these young talents!"

Prof. Thomas Neuhaus

Dean of Faculty 1, Folkwang University of the Arts

"As Dean of Faculty 1, which includes the folkwang junior institute, I am very pleased about this support for young, highly talented musicians, without whom our musical life would not remain at its current high level in the long term. I am also pleased that we as a university are contributing directly to the cultural development of the Ruhr region through folkwang junior thanks to the institute's strong network in the region."

Stefan Prophet

Head of Dortmund Music, RuhrMusikSchulen network"It is particularly important to me to promote the identification and support of talented young musicians in our Ruhr metropolitan region and to network with 'our' Folkwang in the interests of young musicians. The cooperation between public music schools and Folkwang within the framework of folkwang junior combines the strengths and potential of both institutions for the education of young students."

Michel Rychlinski

Managing Director of the Association for the Promotion of the Landesjugendensemble NRW"I am looking forward to supporting folkwang junior as a member of the advisory board and would like to contribute my experience in the interests of young students not only as the manager of an association that promotes talented young musicians, but also with the understanding of a musician and teacher.&quot

Dr. Marcus Schönwitz

Orchestra director and secondary school music teacher at the Goetheschule Essen

"It's great that folkwang junior gives young musical talents the chance to make their musical education higher quality, more diverse and more sustainable through its diverse cooperation offers. I am delighted to be able to support this process, especially as I myself was able to experience Folkwang University as a formative part of my overall education and as a school musician and orchestra conductor - especially in a time of dwindling cultural awareness - I am aware of the importance of such support opportunities."

Prof. Dr. Anne Steinbach

Music Education/Music Didactics FB 2, Folkwang University of the Arts

"Folkwang Junior links the music school and university education of young people in music. Artistic and pedagogical aspects go hand in hand. I am delighted to be able to accompany and support this process on the advisory board."

Philipp Stümke

Parents' representative, professional musician

"folkwang junior supports the next generation of young musicians in developing their artistic personality and finding their place in the world of music. As a father and professional musician, I experience musical learning and life at home as well as the demands of the music profession. I am happy to contribute my experience from both areas to the advisory board."

Jan Thürmer

Cultural manager, concert organizer, instrument maker

"Back in the seventies, I began producing pianos in my own company in Herne, in addition to producing pianos by hand, and thus laid the foundation for my work as a concert organizer. Very early on, I came into contact with highly talented musicians for whom agents I knew were looking for opportunities to perform under professional conditions. Olli Mustonen, for example, played in the first year of the "Bochumer Klaviersommer" in 1984, which I renamed the "Ruhr Piano Festival" in 1989. The young Frank Peter Zimmermann gave a concert with his piano partner Arnulf von Arnim in the newly built Thürmer Hall, and later the 15-year-old Liv Migdal on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the hall.
In this respect, it is a great pleasure for me to be able to support folkwang junior as an advisory board member. Our company property at Friedrich-Ebert-Platz 3 in Herne, which will be acquired by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia at the end of 2023, will contain a lecture hall, teaching and practice rooms as well as artist accommodation in addition to the pianoforte manufactory, administration and piano museum. This is where I see the potential for support on this side in the creation of performances and their preparation and follow-up on site."