Thomas Reif

Thomas Reif is a Professor of Violin at the School of Music & Art Education (SOMA) at Mozarteum University. As 1st Coordinated Concertmaster of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra since 2018, he balances academic leadership with international performance. His roles include solo violinist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader.

Education: Studied under Prof. Harald Herzl (Mozarteum Salzburg), Prof. Tanja Becker-Bender (Hamburg), and Prof. Stephan Picard (Hanns Eisler Academy Berlin). Further training with Midori, Ferenc Rados, and others. Holds an M.Mus degree.

Research Interests: Specializes in Baroque repertoire with ensemble Breath of Zephyr, exploring works by Roman, Veracini, and Lully through modern reinterpretations. Equally passionate about Argentine tango through Cuarteto SolTango, blending classical techniques with traditional tango forms. Active in chamber music collaborations with artists like Alice Sara Ott and Igor Levit.

Recent Trends in Work: Albums like Misión Tango (2021) and POESÍA (2023) showcase his cross-genre exploration. Frequent performances at festivals (Verbier, Eggenfelden) and renowned venues (Konzerthaus Berlin, Smith Center Las Vegas).

Awards: Notable prizes include Queen Elisabeth Competition Laureate (2015) and 2nd Prize at the International Mozart Competition (2016). Recipient of scholarships from Alfred-Toepfer-Stiftung and Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes.

Grants & Labs: Supported by institutional grants. Leads ensemble projects like Breath of Zephyr (Baroque) and Cuarteto SolTango (Tango), emphasizing collaborative innovation.