Folkwang Chamber Orchestra Essen
The Folkwang Chamber Orchestra Essen is an orchestra that, on the basis of the Folkwang concept, accompanies graduating students from North Rhine-Westphalian music academies at a professional level in their later professional life. It was founded in 1958 by the director of the Folkwang University, Heinz Dressel . Since then, over 500 musicians have been taken on in opera and concert orchestras in Germany and abroad.
It is the only orchestra to play regularly and exclusively in the historic rooms of Villa Hügel . In addition, the ensemble was able to earn a place among the German chamber orchestras through guest performances in Germany and neighboring European countries. The orchestra played at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and the Schwetzingen Mozart Festival, and concert tours have taken it to Austria, Switzerland, Lithuania and Italy. In 2008 it played at the Rheingau Music Festival . There is a permanent partnership with the Essen Bach Choir , among others .
Heinz Dressel, Heribert Beissel , Alexander Schwinck, Karl-Heinz Bloemeke, Stefan Fraas and Achim Fiedler were chief conductors . The current chief conductor Johannes Klumpp has been in office since the 2013/2014 season.