Friederike Heumann

Professor Friederike Heumann is a renowned violist da gamba specializing in historical string chamber music at the University of Music Würzburg. Previously, she taught at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts, where she continues to maintain teaching responsibilities. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in early music performance.

Her educational background includes studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Jordi Savall and Paolo Pandolfo, where she completed a soloist diploma in early music. Following her studies, she received a scholarship at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, establishing her career as a freelance musician.

Professor Heumann's research interests focus on historical performance practice, particularly the viola da gamba repertoire from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. She has pioneered innovative approaches to 17th-century instrumental music, blending scholarly rigor with artistic expression. Her work explores the intersections between historical techniques and contemporary performance practices, with special emphasis on improvisation within the stylus phantasticus tradition.

Her discography reveals a systematic exploration of historical repertoire, progressing from foundational works by Buxtehude and Erlebach to more experimental projects incorporating Mediterranean musical traditions. Her recordings demonstrate increasing sophistication in historical reconstruction while maintaining artistic vitality, with recent projects expanding into cross-cultural musical dialogues.

• Diapason d'or award for L'Harmonie des Nations
• 4 clés de Télérama for multiple recordings
• Choc du Monde de la Musique recognition
• 10 de Répertoire/Classica distinction
• 5 Étoiles de Goldberg accolade
• Premio Bonporti first prize with ensemble Le Nuove Musiche

Professor Heumann actively mentors students through her teaching positions at both Würzburg and Munich institutions, while also conducting international masterclasses. She serves on juries for major early music competitions, contributing to the development of the next generation of performers. Her ensemble Stylus Phantasticus functions as both a performance vehicle and pedagogical laboratory for exploring historical chamber music practices.

Through her ensemble Stylus Phantasticus, Professor Heumann has created a dynamic performance platform that bridges scholarly research and artistic expression. The ensemble regularly collaborates with leading vocal soloists and instrumentalists, presenting innovative programs that explore the boundaries of historical performance while maintaining rigorous scholarly foundations.