Thomas Riebl

Thomas Riebl serves as International Chair in Viola at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham City University) and Professor at Mozarteum University Salzburg since 1983. This dual appointment positions him at the forefront of viola pedagogy across European conservatoire systems, maintaining active performance and teaching commitments in both institutions.

His artistic focus centers on viola performance practice, chamber music interpretation, and orchestral collaboration within the classical tradition. Professor Riebl's approach integrates historical performance techniques with contemporary interpretive standards, emphasizing the viola's expressive capabilities across solo, chamber, and orchestral contexts through regular masterclasses and performance workshops.

Professor Riebl's accolades include:

• First Prize at ARD Competition (Munich)
• First Prize & Ernst-Walfisch-Gedächtnispreis at Naumburg Competition (1982)
• First Prize at European Broadcasting Competition (Stockholm, 1974)

His mentorship has cultivated generations of successful musicians, with students achieving prominence as competition laureates, principal orchestra members, and conservatoire professors worldwide. Professor Riebl's teaching methodology combines technical precision with artistic individuality, preparing students for international careers through performance opportunities at major festivals and competitions.

As a recording artist for RCA, Hyperion, and EMI, he has contributed significantly to the viola discography through solo works and chamber collaborations, particularly with the Vienna String Sextet (1979-2004). His current activities balance transnational teaching responsibilities with selective performance engagements across Europe's premier concert halls.