Pianist and Professor at Music University “Hanns Eisler” Berlin

Curriculum Vitae

Born in the region of Frankfurt/Main, Konrad Engel grew up in a mostly scientifically oriented family. However it came clear already during his early chidhood that music would be his vocation some day. More than a dozen scholarships, awards and many prizes at international competitions reinforced that impression over the years.

He started his academic studies in music education at Hannover Music University and finished his third Diploma with the „Konzertexamen“ in 2006 after being a student of Karl-Heinz Kämmerling for many years. His education was also enriched by important impulses from John O’Conor (Wilhelm-Kempff-Academy Positano), Bernhard Wetz and Gerhard Schroth (Frankfurt) as well as chamber music lessons by Vassilia Efstathiadou, Antje Weithaas, Grainne Dunne, Wolfgang Böttcher and Klaus Peitz.

His concert career – now more than 30 years of stage experience – took him all over the northern hemisphere, across Europe, Asia and the US. As a soloist he performed with numerous renowned orchestras and at several international festivals. His repertoire did never exclude any style or period, which is documented by many broadcast productions.

Since his younger days Konrad Engel is also very much dedicated to chamber music and Kunstlied. Just to mention a few long term highlights, there was the ten years very successful cooperation as a Duo with Rouven Schirmer (Cello) and the applauded „Trio Corrado” together with Konradin Seitzer (Violin) and Konrad Haesler (Cello). Beyond that he was member of many other ensembles and as well conducting two chamber orchestras for several years.

Over the last two decades he discovered his great passion for teaching and rather focused his career on education since a few years, in particular on special training for highly talented kids and pre-college students. After getting first experiences in teaching at the municipal music school Hanover and some other institutions, a lectureship at the University for Arts Bremen in 2011 was an important leap.

From 2012 to 2018 he got a substitutional professorship at Hanover Music University, where he first got in touch with the education of highly talented young people. This led in the end to a full professorship at the University „Hanns Eisler“ Berlin and the honour to become head of piano department at the „Musikgymnasium C.P.E. Bach“ in addition. By now amongst his students are many prizewinners at international competitions. Konrad Engel is also giving international masterclasses as well regarding methodology, improvisation and music theory.

In his sparse free time Konrad Engel is interested in many other subjects, such as astronomy and technology but also visual arts, history and philosophy – never to forget about classic cars! His motto actually couldn’t be described better than in Eisler’s words: „Who seeks to understand music only, won’t understand music at all.“