Henja Semmler

Prof. Henja Semmler is a violin professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock since the 2023/24 winter semester. Previously, she held a professorship at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (2018) and taught at the Universität der Künste Berlin and Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock. Her career combines solo performances, orchestral roles, and chamber music collaborations. She co-founded the Oberon Trio, performing globally and recording CDs. She has been a guest concertmaster with ensembles like the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Lucerne Festival Orchestra, collaborating with renowned conductors like Claudio Abbado and Pierre Boulez.

Education & Background: Studied violin with Rainer Kussmaul, Thomas Brandis, and Gerhard Schulz, with additional focus on Baroque violin. Awards include scholarships and competition prizes from DAAD, Deutscher Musikinstrumentenfonds, and others. Active in contemporary music premieres with composers like Sofia Gubaidulina and Jörg Widmann.

Teaching & Professional Contributions: Teaches violin and chamber music, conducts master classes globally, and serves on international competition juries. Her pedagogical work emphasizes artistic excellence and mentorship. She is a core member of the Oberon Trio and maintains a dynamic performance schedule across Europe’s major festivals.

Awards & Recognition:

• DAAD Scholarship
• Deutscher Musikinstrumentenfonds Scholarship
• Deutscher Musikwettbewerb Prize
• Louis Spohr Competition Prize
• Deutscher Hochschulwettbewerb Prize