Silke-Thora Matthies

Prof. Silke-Thora Matthies is a distinguished pianist and professor at the University of Music Würzburg, where she has held a professorship in piano since 1992. She served as rector of the institution from 2003 to 2007 and remains an active performer and educator. As vice chairwoman of the Musical Academy, she continues to shape musical education and performance standards.

Her educational background includes studies at Musikhochschule Detmold with Renate Kretschmar-Fischer and at The Juilliard School with Joseph Kalichstein, complemented by masterclasses with Monique Haas, Andor Foldes, and Pál Kadosa. She received scholarships from the German National Academic Foundation, DAAD, and the Jürgen Ponto Foundation.

Her research and artistic focus lies in piano performance, chamber music, and 20th-century repertoire, with a special emphasis on four-hand piano literature and contemporary German and French works. She performs internationally as a soloist and as part of the acclaimed piano duo Matthies/Köhn with Christian Köhn, with whom she has recorded 19 CDs and won the ARD Competition.

The body of her recorded and performed works reflects a deep engagement with diverse musical eras—from Baroque (Scarlatti) to modernist (Lachenmann, Dutilleux) and Romantic (Brahms, Dvořák). Her artistic output bridges historical interpretation and contemporary innovation, often highlighting underrepresented composers and collaborative forms.

• 1st Prize, Gina Bachauer Competition, New York
• Prizewinner, Liszt/Bartók Competition, Budapest
• Prizewinner, Jeunes Musicales, Bordeaux
• Prizewinner, Robert Casadesus Competition, Cleveland
• ARD Competition Award (with Matthies/Köhn)

She has mentored generations of pianists through her professorship and masterclasses, particularly in Germany, Japan, and Korea. Her performance career includes extensive international touring, radio and television broadcasts, and recordings supported by institutional grants and foundation scholarships. She leads no formal lab but collaborates extensively within ensembles and international music networks.