Vienna Brass Connection
Vienna Brass Connection
Vienna Brass Connection. [viˈenə] [brɑ:s] [kəˈnekʃən].
Packed with power, with the focus onto the only thing that matters: the moment. Here and now.
The musicians of the Vienna Brass Connection are members of top orchestras (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Volksoper, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra) and are active in a wide variety of ensembles. Although they are so widely dispersed professionally, they all share a long-standing friendship and a wide range of musical interests - this mixture is probably the recipe for the Vienna Brass Connection. The repertoire is extremely wide-ranging: selected music that reflects the whole spectrum of life! Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, cheerful and sometimes sad, with all the ups and downs. And you can hear that.
//: Johannes Kafka conductor | Thomas Bachmair trumpet | Gerhard Berndl trumpet | Martin Griebl trumpet | Christian Hollensteiner trumpet | Johannes Moritz trumpet | Michael Schwaighofer trumpet | Michael Stückler vienna horn | Manuel Egger vienna horn | Manuel Huber vienna horn | Klaus Leherbauer vienna horn | Stefan Obmann trombone | Christian Poitinger basstrombone | Martin Riener trombone, euphonium | Raphael Stieger trombone | Christian Winter trombone, euphonium | Christoph Gigler tuba | Markus Nimmervoll tuba | Georg Hasibeder percussion | Leonhard Königseder percussion | Patrick Prammer percussion ://: www.vienna-brass-connection.at ://
// Johannes Kafka | *1984 | bassoon concert studies | specialization in choral conducting | conducting studies with Ingo Ingensand | substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) | since 2010: member of the Vienna State Opera stage orchestra //
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Thomas Bachmair | *1985 | Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Temporary contracts with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz and the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra) | Since September 2010: Engagement with the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria //
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Gerhard Berndl | *1981 | Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Volksoper, Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria) | Member of the group Samma4 and the brass band MaChlast | Since 2003: member of the Vienna State Opera stage orchestra //
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Martin Griebl | *1987 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz and at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna | Substitute with renowned ensembles and orchestras (e.g. Orchestra Berlin, German Opera Berlin, BBC Symphony Orchestra London, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Klangforum Vienna, Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, Vienna Volksoper, Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra Berlin, Concentus Musicus Vienna) | temporary contract as principal trumpet of the German Opera Berlin | 2013/14: principal trumpet of the Munich Radio Orchestra | member of the Pro Brass Ensemble | since 2014: principal trumpet of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne //
> www.wdrsinfonieorchester.de
> www.probrass.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Christian Hollensteiner | *1985 | Studied at the University of Music Graz | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam) | 2008: 1st prize at the Intermusica soloist competition | Soprano cornet player with the Brassband Oberösterreich | since 2006: 1st trumpet player with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra //
> rso.orf.at
> www.woodyblechpeckers.at
> www.kaisermusikanten.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Johannes Moritz | *1987 | Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Substitute in renowned orchestras (including the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) | 2008-2018: Principal trumpet in the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg | 2018-2023: Principal trumpet in the Bavarian State Orchestra and at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich | since 2023: Principal trumpet of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra //
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Michael Schwaighofer | *1983 | Studied with Hans Gansch at the Mozarteum Salzburg | Winner of national and international competitions as a soloist and chamber musician | Scholarship holder of the Herbert von Karajan Center | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, HR Symphony Orchestra) and the Ensemble Pro Brass | Member of the MaChlast brass band | Since 2008: principal trumpet of the Vienna Volksoper //
> www.volksoper.at
> www.machlast.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
Michael Stückler and Peter Dorfmayr share this position at the Vienna Brass Connection.
// Michael Stückler | *1997 | Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Guest with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria | 2016-2022: principal horn of the Vienna Volksoper | since 2022: principal horn of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra //
Photo: Vienna Brass Connection// Peter Dorfmayr | *1989 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | 2010-2013: 1st/3rd horn player in the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg | 2013/14: engagement in the Vienna State Opera stage orchestra | 2014-2016: solo horn player at the Vienna Volksoper Horn player in the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg | 2013/14: engagement in the stage orchestra of the Vienna State Opera | 2014-2016: solo horn player at the Vienna Volksoper | guest with the Vienna Philharmonic, Concentus Musicus Wien, Il Giardino Armonico and the Alban Berg Ensemble | member of the Vienna Horns and the Vienna Horn Ensemble | professor of Viennese horn at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna | since 2016: solo horn player with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra //
> www.wienersymphoniker.at
> www.viennahorns.com
> www.wienerhornensemble.com
> www.muk.ac.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Manuel Egger | *1990 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Les Musiciens du Louvre Grenoble) | Member of the Vienna Horns, the Ensemble Sonos Vienna and the Vienna Horn Ensemble | 2018-2023: Horn player with the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra | since 2023: Horn player at the Vienna Volksoper //
> www.volksoper.at
> www.viennahorns.com
> www.wienerhornensemble.com
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Manuel Huber | *1988 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz and at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna | 2007-2008: Engagement in the Vienna State Opera Stage Orchestra | 2008-2014: 4th horn player of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | Member of the Vienna Horns and the Vienna Horn Ensemble | since 2014: Solo horn player of the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra //
> www.wienerphilharmoniker.at
> www.wiener-staatsoper.at
> www.viennahorns.com
> www.wienerhornensemble.com
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Klaus Leherbauer | *1990 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, Vienna State Opera Stage Orchestra, Vienna Volksoper) | May 2013: temporary contract as 1st horn player at the Vienna Volksoper | since 2019: teaching at the Landesmusikschule Ried im Innkreis | Member of the Vienna Horns and the Vienna Horn Ensemble | freelance musician //
> www.viennahorns.com
> www.wienerhornensemble.com
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Stefan Obmann | *1988 | Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | 2006: Winner of the Anton Bruckner Competition of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra | Guest musician with renowned orchestras (e.g. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Tonkünstler Orchestra Lower Austria, Vienna Volksoper and State Opera, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra) and ensembles (including phil Blech Wien, Federspiel) | temporary contracts at the Vienna Volksoper, the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, the Vienna State Opera (stage orchestra) and the Frankfurt Opera | various teaching activities and lectureships at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | busy concert schedule with Ensemble Phace, Klangforum Vienna, Ensemble Wiener Collage and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra | member of the trombone quartet Trombone Attraction | lives as a freelance musician in Vienna //
> www.TromboneAttraction.com/so
> www.TromboneAttraction.com
> www.ewc.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Christian Poitinger | * 1987 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz/Oberschützen | 2006: Winner of the Anton Bruckner Competition of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra | 2009: 1st prize at the international Edward Kleinhammer Competition | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Vienna State Opera, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria) | Member of the trombone quartet Trombone Attraction | Since 2007: Bass trombonist at the Vienna Volksoper | Since 2018: Lecturer in bass trombone at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna //
> www.volksoper.at
> www.TromboneAttraction.com
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Martin Riener | *1987 | studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Vienna State Opera, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) | 2011: winner of the Gradus ad Parnassum competition | 2007-2016: solo trombonist with the Vienna Volksoper | member of the trombone quartet Trombone Attraction | since 2016: principal trombone of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra //
> www.wienersymphoniker.at
> www.TromboneAttraction.com
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Raphael Stieger | *1984 | Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna State Opera, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) | Member of the trombone quartet Trombone Attraction | since 2011: Music school teacher for the City of Vienna | since 2012: Head of the Leopoldstadt Music School (2nd district of Vienna) | since 2021: Lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna as assistant to Leonhard Paul | active as a freelance musician //
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Christian Winter | *1988 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, NDR Radio Philharmonic Hanover, Vienna Philharmonic) | Since 2012: solo trombonist in the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg //
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Christoph Gigler | *1983 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz | 2005-2007: Academician of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra | Member of the Ensemble Wien Berlin Brass Quintett | since 2008: Engagement at the Vienna State Opera and with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra //
> www.wienerphilharmoniker.at
> www.wiener-staatsoper.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Markus Nimmervoll | *1987 | studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz | 2010: winner of the Anton Bruckner Competition of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra | substitute with renowned orchestras | academy member of the Munich Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic | 2013-2018: tuba player with the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra | teaching position at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory Graz | since 2018: tuba player with the Graz Philharmonic //
> www.oper-graz.com
> www.woodyblechpeckers.at
> nimus.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Georg Hasibeder | *1986 | Studied at the Vienna Conservatory Private University and at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna | Substitute with renowned orchestras (including the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria, The Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Volksoper and Vienna State Opera | since 2017: percussionist with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra //
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Leonhard Königseder | *1986 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University Linz, at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz | Substitute with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz | 2010-2023: principal percussionist with the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra | Lecturer in Mental Training at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna //
> www.leonhard-koenigseder.com
Photo: Zopf Photography
// Patrick Prammer | *1987 | Studied at the Anton Bruckner Private University and the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna | Temporary contracts at the Vienna Volksoper and the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria | Substitute at the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra | Percussionist with the Vienna Horns ensemble | Since 2011: principal percussionist and deputy principal timpanist with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra //
> rso.orf.at
> www.woodyblechpeckers.at
> www.kaisermusikanten.at
Photo: Zopf Photography
Thank you!
//: conductor ://
Tobias Wögerer
//: trumpet ://
Helmut Fuchs, Patrick Hofer, Daniel Neumann, Thomas Rainer
//: vienna horn ://
Max Pichler, Thomas Steinwender, Raphael Stöffelmayr
//: trombone & euphonium ://
Michael Böhm, Christian Eisenhut, Thomas Märzendorfer
//: tuba ://
Matthias Haslinger, Albert Wieder, Franz Winkler, Thomas Brunmayr
//: percussion ://
Wolfgang Nagl, Manfred Radner, Lea Feichtenschlager
Where the flugelhorn sounds like a shy little squirrel; where the trombonesand trumpets cut the air into tiny strips with their sharp sound and then, just a few moments later, tie them into beautiful ribbons; where horns can wear horns and tubas can be real tubas; where the percussion isn’t banished to the off-beat; where a violin goes eye to eye with a herd of brass, tamed only through sensitive conducting, and a tenor goes against a brass avalanche and still comes out the other side as the radiant hero he is; where you get an hour of music you never would have expected, music which takes you through all physical states – there you will find “Open Minded”, the Vienna Brass Connection’s youngest offspring. Fantastic music, challenging arrangements, lead competently and intelligently by Johannes Kafka and interpreted wonderfully by each and every musician in the ensemble.
Leonhard Paul
Mnozil Brass