The Royal College of Music (RCM) has announced the appointment of world-renowned trumpet virtuoso Matthias Höfs as Visiting Professor.

The former solo trumpet of the Hamburg Philharmonic and a key member of the remarkable German Brass ensemble, he will take up his role in January offering one-to-one tuition, masterclasses and recitals, as well as playing alongside students in the RCM Brass Ensemble.

Inspirational

Nigel Black, Head of the RCM Brass Faculty told 4BR: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome Matthias to our faculty as Visiting Professor. He is a truly inspirational teacher and one of the greatest brass players of our time.”

He added: “Matthias’ appointment further enhances the existing RCM’s Brass Faculty professors who, between them, hold principal positions in the Philharmonia, London Symphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique amongst others.”

Acclaimed

Alongside numerous professional performances with the likes of the Berlin Philharmonic and Munich Philharmonic orchestras, Matthias has made over twenty recordings with German Brass, as well as solo recordings of his own, including the critically acclaimed ‘Hommage!’ of chamber sonatas composed by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

Matthias studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg and at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s Karajan Academy, graduating with distinction in 1984. As a guest lecturer he has worked all over the musical world.

Alongside his distinguished playing career, Matthias is also noted for designing many of his own instruments, working alongside the famed Thein brothers in Bremen.

He is a truly inspirational teacher and one of the greatest brass players of our timeNigel Black, Head of the RCM Brass Faculty

Honoured

Matthias told 4BR: “I am honoured to be invited to this highly renowned musical institution. During my last visit I truly enjoyed the warm welcome by my colleagues and the student body.

It will be an inspiration performing with musicians of this calibre, and I look forward to passing on my enthusiasm for the German brass tradition.”