Matthias Buchholz

Matthias Buchholz is Professor of Viola at Manhattan School of Music, specializing in Classical Viola within the Strings department. An internationally acclaimed performer, he serves as Artists in Residence with the American String Quartet and maintains active performance careers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

His educational trajectory includes foundational training in Hamburg followed by advanced studies at:

• University of Cincinnati
• Hochschule für Musik Detmold
• Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia

Buchholz's artistic practice centers on viola repertoire expansion through solo performance, chamber music innovation, and orchestral leadership. His interpretations bridge historical and contemporary works, with particular emphasis on 20th-century compositions and cross-cultural collaborations, demonstrated through decades of masterclasses worldwide.

His competitive excellence earned recognition at premier international venues:

• Bonn International Viola Competition Laureate (1978)
• Los Angeles International Viola Competition Laureate (1981)
• Budapest International Viola Competition Laureate (1984)

Buchholz maintains significant ensemble affiliations including principal viola of Stuttgart Radio Orchestra (1986-1990), founding membership in Heine-Quartett (2003-2008) where he premiered Aribert Reimann's "Adagio für Streichquartett" (2006), and ongoing participation in Linos-Ensemble since 1991. He performs regularly at major festivals including Marlboro, Salzburg, Avignon, and Schleswig-Holstein, while serving as leading member of Seoul's Hwaum Chamber Orchestra and holding a 2013 professorial appointment at HEM Geneve.