Matthias Benker | Viola
Studied viola at the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler Berlin with Prof. Alfred Lipka. International master courses with Kim Kashkashian, Tabea Zimmermann and Felix Schwartz. 1990-1993 principal viola in the RIAS youth orchestra. 1992-1994 intern in the Staatskapelle Berlin. Guest musician with the Berliner Philharmonic, the Staatsoper Unter
den Linden Berlin, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Munich, German Symphony Orchestra Berlin, NDR Symphony Orchestra Hamburg and the Bamberg Symphonic. Since 1998 permanent guest musician at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
den Linden Berlin, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Munich, German Symphony Orchestra Berlin, NDR Symphony Orchestra Hamburg and the Bamberg Symphonic. Since 1998 permanent guest musician at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Member of the Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin since 1999, from 2002 deputy principal viola. Member of the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra from 2002. Participated in the 2007 Lucerne Festival. Tours to Japan, China, USA, South America, Israel and throughout Europe.
Worked extensively in chamber music and as soloist, e.g. in the Deutsches Theater Berlin, at the Hohenloher Kultursommer, at the opening of the Bundesrat, the Kurt Weill Festival Berlin, the Oldenburg Promenade and as part of the chamber music series hosted by the Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin in the Konzerthaus. Principal viola with the Soloists of the Kammerphilharmonie Berlin, the New Berlin Chamber Orchestra and the German Chamber Orchestra.