Biography
By the age of six, Matthias Höfs declared the trumpet his instrument, “because it shines so nicely”. He received his musical education from Professor Peter Kallensee at Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, as well as from Professor Konradin Groth at the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Just being eighteen years old, Höfs was already engaged as solo-trumpeter at the Philharmonic State Orchestra in Hamburg, where he enjoyed the fascinating world of opera for sixteen years. At the same time, Höfs became a member of the GERMAN BRASS Ensemble, with whom he continues to achieve worldwide successes.
Since their first joint concert in 1985, he has been writing costumized and innovative arrangements for his colleagues and himself, which span more than one genre and continue to inspire the world of brass. Matthias Höfs always proved to be a pioneering spirit by consistently widening the horizon of his instrument. These continuous developments are encouraged by a close cooperation with other composers, who feel themselves inspired by his incomparable virtuosity and joy of experimentation. Additionally inspired by his position as “trumpet ambassador” in his home state Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany as well as the cooperation with the instrument makers Max and Heinrich Thein.
Starting in 2000, Matthias Höfs has been teaching as a Professor at Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, where he continues to inspire his students with enthusiasm, passion for his instrument, and great knowledge. In addition to his extensive concert performances as solo-trumpeter and chamber musician, Höfs recorded numerous solo-albums, as well as over twenty recordings with GERMAN BRASS.
In October 2016 GERMAN BRASS was awarded with the ECHO Klassik – one of the most outstanding awards for national and international musicians.
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GUEST PROFESSORSHIPS
- Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory
- Academy of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
- The Royal Danish Music Academy Copenhagen
- Conservatoire National Supérieur De Musique Et De Danse De Paris
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama London
as well as workshops in Mexico, Spain and Japan
Awards
- 1983 Hanse-Kulturpreis of Lübeck
- 1987 First prize of the conservatories’ competition
- 1988 Eduard-Söhring-Prize
- 1989 Scholarship of the German Music Council and the “Mozartgesellschaft”
- 1990 First prize at the international music competition in Markneukirchen
- 2016 ECHO Klassik with GERMAN BRASS