Anke Schittenhelm

Violin & Chamber Music Masterclass

Anke Schittenhelm was born in Bruchsal (Germany). Her university education began at the age of 16 at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe in the master class of Ulf Hoelscher (preliminary studies). She continued her studies at the Conservatory of Berne in the masterclass of Igor Ozim and graduated with a teaching diploma with distinction. Her further education led her to the College Conservatory Cincinnati (USA) in the masterclass of Dorothy Delay, from which she graduated with the “artist diploma” with special honours. She received additional artistic training from Wolfgang Marschner, Yfrah Neaman, the Tokyo String Quartet and the Lassalle Quartet.

Already at the age of 24 she became 1st concertmaster of the Hof Symphony Orchestra. Three years later she received a guest professorship at Wesleyan University Bloomington (USA). In 1999 she was appointed full professor for violin at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. She has won prizes at numerous competitions, including the International Starling Competition.

Many solo and chamber music performances have taken her to Germany, Israel, Russia, the Czech Republic and the USA. She has made several radio recordings of works such as the Sonatas for Harpsichord and Violin by J.S. Bach, Beethoven’s Violin Romances, Brahms’ Violin Sonatas and many more. Her recordings of Messiaen’s Quartet at the End of Time as well as Schubert’s Octet also prove her dedicated commitment to chamber music.

Anke Schittenhelm has lived in Graz since 1999 and founded the chamber orchestra “Capella Calliope” there. Since 2002 she has been artistic director of the International Chamber Music Days in Raumberg (Styria) and since 2004 chairwoman of ESTA Styria.

Within the KUG she is involved in various committees for the further development of the KUG’s agendas and for the support of many projects and ideas from the ranks of her colleagues.

Anke Schittenhelm regularly performs internationally with her chamber orchestra “Capella Calliope” and as a duo with the pianists Annamaria Bodoky-Krause and Ekaterina Tarnopolskaja.

Anke Schittenhelm is particularly concerned with the early and youth promotion of Austria’s young musicians. For this reason, she has been a member of the national advisory board “Music for Youth” since 2005 and a member of the federal advisory board since 2011. In this context, she is also a long-standing member of the Commission for the Allocation of Additional Lessons for Highly Gifted Students of the Province of Styria.