| Hof Symphony Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Orchestra | |
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| Native name | Hofer Symphoniker |
| Founded | 1945 (1945) |
| Location | Klosterstraße 9–11 95028Hof Germany |
| Concert hall | Freiheitshalle |
| Principal conductor | Martijn Dendievel (from season 2024/25) |
| Website | hofer-symphoniker.de |
Hofer Symphoniker (Hof Symphony Orchestra) is aGermansymphony orchestra based inHof, Bavaria, Germany. The orchestra began its performing activity in 1945, when KapellmeisterKarl F. Keller founded it asHofer Konzertorchester.
As a concert orchestra, Hofer Symphoniker gives concerts atFreiheitshalle Hof, an event building and concert hall, as well as at several locations in the region ofUpper Franconia. The orchestra worked together with artists likeElīna Garanča,Mojca Erdmann,Julia Fischer,Hilary Hahn,Daniel Hope,Albrecht Mayer,Daniel Müller-Schott,Martin Stadtfeld andJörg Widmann. The orchestra also performs regularly at Thurn und Taxis Castle Festival inRegensburg with singers likeJosé Carreras,Lucia Aliberti andJonas Kaufmann.
As a theatre orchestra, Hofer Symphoniker performs atTheater Hof which was newly built in 1994. It is the orchestra's home venue where it plays operas, operettas, musicals and ballets. The theatre also serves as a multi-purpose venue for drama productions and other performances.
In 1978, Hofer Symphoniker opened its own music school, used to train future talents. As such, the Hofer Symphoniker Music School is the only music school in Germany that is attached to a professional symphony orchestra. As a cultural and educational centre, the corporation includes also a Suzuki Academy and an Art School. An important award was the prestigiousEcho Klassik Special Prize for youth education in 2010.
Since 2007, theInternational Violin Competition Henri Marteau, named after the famous violinist and violin teacherHenri Marteau, takes place under the sponsorship of the District ofUpper Franconia and is being organized by Hofer Symphoniker every three years inLichtenberg andHof.
Chief conductors of Hofer Symphoniker were:
From 2001 to 2023, guest conductors lead the orchestra instead of chief conductors. From 2010 to 2016, Swiss conductorDaniel Klajner was "Principal Guest Conductor". Since 2016, Hermann Bäumer is "Conductor in Residence" and will finish this role in 2025 after Martijn Dendievel's first season as chief conductor.
Since 2003,Enoch zu Guttenberg is Conductor Laureate.
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