Dominik Wollenweber

“As an English horn player I have a lot of time to listen. I mostly play when all the other musicians are silent. The dark sound of the cor anglais is especially effective in lyrical, melancholy and contemplative moments.” (Dominik Wollenweber)

The sound of the cor anglais (English horn) was a part of Dominik Wollenweber's life since he was born; his father played the cor anglais in the Bayerische Staatsorchester. ButWollenweber took a circuitous route to the instrument. He first played the flute and, aged 14, took up the oboe, which he studied in Munich with Hagen Wangenheim at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München  and with Simon Dent at the Richard-Strauss-Konservatorium.

His early musical career was marked by success at major competitions: in 1992 he received a Förderpreis (support award) from the Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Cultural Affairsand in 1996 he became a prizewinner at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, one of the most prestigious international competitions for young musicians.

He first performed with the Berliner Philharmoniker as a member of the Karajan-Akademie where he studied from 1991 to 1993 with Hansjörg Schellenberger. During this time, Wollenweber was principal oboist of the European Union Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado. After applying for various oboe positions, he approached the Berliner Philharmoniker to audition for the vacant cor anglais position and was engaged.

In addition to his many activities in the orchestra and as a chamber musician, he has been a visiting professor for oboe at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin since 2000.