Biographies
Get to know Tonschmiede – Das Blechprojekt. In the following briefs you’ll learn more about us, our musical paths, and current pursuits. You can find further pictures in the gallery.
Luis Groß - Trumpet
Luis Gross was born in Freiburg im Breisgau. Before beginning his studies at the University for Music and the Performing Arts Munich, he played with the Landesjugendorchester Baden-Württemberg and in the Jugendsymphonieorchester of Regio Basiliensis. With the latter he performed a rendition of Joseph Haydn’s Trompetenkonzert as soloist in 2003. Between 2004 and 2008 he studied under Prof. Hannes Läubin in Munich. During this time he was accepted into the advancement program of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation Live Music Now München e.V., as a soloist, as well as with his quintet and his trumpet-duo. Between 2007 and 2009 Luis Gross was an academician at the Symphonieorchester des Bayrischen Rundfunks. before switching cities and universities and has since been studying in Frankfurt am Main under Prof. Klaus Schuhwerk at the University of Music and Performing Arts. Luis has also been a member of the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie since 2008. At the VI International Jan Koetsier Awards for Brass Chamber Music in 2008, he won the first prize together with his quintet Contra Brass.
Peter Moriggl - Trumpet
Peter Moriggl was born in Schlanders, South Tyrol in 1985. He received his first trumpet lessons from Anton Stecher, at the Music School Mals. He completed his Artistic Diploma at the Tiroler Landeskonservatorium in 2008 under the guidance of Erich Rinner before completing his studies at the Mozarteum Salzburg under Prof. Hans Gansch and Mag. Andreas Öttl. He gained orchestral experiences at the International Young Orchestra Academy Bayreuth, the European Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, the Haydn-Orchestra Academy Bozen/Trient and the Munich Bachsoloists, among others. Starting October 2007 Peter was academician at the Munich Philharmonics for two years and has been a member of the Orchestra Academy of the Bavarian State-Opera since September 2009. There he was able to play under such notable conductors as Zubin Metha, Christian Thielemann, Kent Nagano, Franz Welser Möst and Jonathan Nott to name but a few. Currently, Peter is principal trumpet at the Southwest-German Philharmonics Konstanz.
Wilfried Prader - Trumpet
Born in Brixen (South Tyrol), it was at the age of 8 that Wilfried Prader began to play the trumpet. From 1999 Wilfried studied at the University for Music and the Performing Arts Munich under Prof. Hannes Läubin, where he received his Diploma with distinction. He completed his studies under Prof. Hans Gansch at the University Mozarteum Salzburg. He played in various renowned youth orchestras including the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. In the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons Willi was scholarship holder of the Orchestra Academy of the Staatskapelle Berlin/Staatsoper Unter den Linden under Maestro Daniel Barenboim. From 2006 until 2008 Wilfried played the 1st/3rd trumpeter at the Landesbühnen Sachsen. Working as a substitute led to engagements at orchestras such as the Rundfunk und Sinfonieorchester des Bayrischen Rundfunks, the German Opera Berlin, the Dresdner Philharmonics, the Staatskapelle Berlin, the State Opera Stuttgart, the Munich and Hofer Symphonic, and the State Theater Darmstadt. Wilfried Prader won first place in the solo competition on a national level in the Prima La Musica Competition, was scholarship holder of the Villa Musica Foundation, and prizewinner with the brass quintet Munich Chamber Bass both at the international Jan-Koetsier competition in Munich and the international brass-competition Jeju in South Korea. Since September 2008 Wilfried has been teaching at the Institute for Musical Education South Tyrol.
Tobias Winbeck - Trumpet
After growing up in Vilsbiburg in Lower Bavaria, Tobias Winbeck completed his studies with a major in trumpet under Prof. Hannes Läubin and Thomas Kiechle at the University for Music and Performing Arts Munich between 2001 and 2007. In early 2004 he was a member of the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and between summer 2004 and 2006 member in the Gustav-Mahler Youth Orchestra. In the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons Tobias was scholarship holder of the Herbert-von- Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonics and was subsequently an academician of the Symphonie Orchester des Bayrischen Rundfunks, Munich. Next to temporary assignments in various orchestras (Symphonie Orchester des Bayrischen Rundfunks, Munich, Kammerakademie Potsdam, among others), he gained a yearlong contract with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. Currently Tobias is permanently employed as a co-principal trumpet at the State Theater Darmstadt.
Lukas Rüdisser - Horn
Lukas Rüdisser was born in Bregenz, Austria in 1983. At the age of eight he received his first horn lessons. He began his studies at the Landeskonservatorium für Voralberg under Josef Sterlinger and continued them under Profs. Gaag and Hinterholzer at the University for Music and Performing Arts Munich. Lukas Rüdisser is member of the Symphony Orchestra Voralberg and the European Philharmonic Orchestra and regularly plays with the Camerata Salzburg and the Munich Symphony Orchestra. A multiple prizewinner at the Austrian youth music awards Prima La Musica, he has been scholarship holder of the foundation Live Music Now since 2007. Rüdisser is member of the ensemble Junge Deutsche Blechbläsersolisten, the ensemble Tonschmiede – Das Blechprojekt, and the brass quintet Brass Experience, with which he won second prize at the 6th International Jan Koetsier Awards. Lukas Rüdisser also focused on the brass ensemble of the Bavarian State Orchestra Opera Brass. Next to his pursuits within chamber music, Rüdisser is also active as a soloist. He performed as a soloist in the sequence of concerts of the Siemens Arts Program Junge Solisten, as well as the sequence of Odeon Concerts and performed as a soloist with the Ingoldstädter Kammerochester and the Berlin Mozartensemble.
Andreas Kofler - Trombone
Andreas Kofler’s musical roots can be found in folk and brass music. At 18 he completed his schooling, with distinction, at the musical conservatory Claudio Monteverdi Bozen under Prof. Iginius Ferrari, who was also his first teacher. He continued his studies at the Musical University Vienna, where he studied the trombone under Prof. Rudolf Josel (principal trombone, ret. at the Vienna Philharmonics). Since 2006 he has played under short-term contracts or as a guest for renowned orchestras such as the Vienna Burgtheater, the Austro-Hungarian Haydnphilharmonie and the Wiener Akademie. At the Wiener Festwochen, Andreas played alongside Joe Zawinul, Bobby McFerrin and Hubert von Goisern. In 2006 he embarked on studies under Prof. David Bruchez-Lalli (principal trombone at the Tonhalle Zurich) at the University of Music in Detmold, Germany, receiving his diploma with distinction in 2008. In 2007 Andreas Kofler won the academy audition (Akademieprobespiel) at the Staatskapelle Dresden/Semperoper and played at this venerable establishment until 2010. Throughout this time Andreas played under conductors such as Fabio Luisi, Daniele Gatti, David Zinman, Christoph Eschenbach, Philippe Herreveghe, Charles Dutoit, Adam Fischer, Giovanni Antonini, Gerd Albrecht and many more. Active substituting led Andreas to various orchestras, such as the Tonhalle Zurich, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Magdeburg Philharmonics, the Niederösterreichischen Tonkünstlerochester, the Theater Lübeck, the ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, the Orchestre de Champs d’Elyseé, the Haydn Orchestra Bozen/ Trient, and the Wiener Akademie on a regular basis. In 2008 he moved to the Musical University Vienna under Prof. Otmar Gaiswinkler, and is currently working on his postgraduate degree. Throughout this time he also remained true to his roots in folk music. He has been part of the brass formation Machlast together with members of the Vienna Philharmonics, the Tonkünstlerorchester Niederösterreich and the Volksoper Vienna. Three CD releases attest to the productivity of this ensemble. Various master classes under Joe Alessi, Jonas Bylund, Wolfram Arndt, Jacques Mauger, Horst Kübelböck, Ed Kleinhammer, John Marcellus, James Thompson, and Olaf Ott, amongst others, have enhanced his musical activities. Andreas Kofler is also a successful composer, writing mainly for folk and brass music formations. Currently he teaches low brass at the Institut für Musikerziehung Südtirol and the Musikschule Oberes Pustertal.
Alain Pasquier - Trombone
Alain Pasquier was born in Basel in 1965. He studied the trombone at the Conservatory Basel under the Viennese trombone virtuoso Heinrich Huber as well as under Harry Ries, the longstanding principal trombone of the Symphony Orchestra of the WDR Cologne, at the Cologne University of Music. The St Gallen Symphony Orchestra has employed Alain Pasquier since 1988, as of 1998 as a principal trombone. As a much sought after guest Alain has played at the Basel Symphony Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Orchestra of the Opera Zurich, and the Swiss Festspielorchester Luzern. A chamber musician and soloist, Alain Pasquier has premiered many pieces, among which are Juraj Filas’ (Prague) Posaunenkonzert (Trombone Concert), or Robert Suter’s Trio für Violine, Posaune und Klavier, which was dedicated to Alain. The premiere of Swiss composer Alfons Karl Zwicker’s piece for trombone and orchestra is on the books for autumn 2012. Alain Pasquier was a member of the ensemble for new music of the IGNM Basel (dir. Jürg Wyttembach) and played in the Edward H.Tarr Brass Ensemble. Between 1984 and 1994 Alain played as trombonist of the brass ensemble Quartetto Amabile, and since 1989 he has been trombonist of the brass quintet St. Gallen, with which he has realized various projects (such as Canzonen by Gabrieli and his contemporaries under the direction of Eric Crees). Alain Pasquier has been a teacher and lecturer of trombone and chamber music at various musical schools for over 25 years.
Daniel Vesel - Trombone
Daniel Vesel grew up in Basel and completed his studies, with distinction, under Mr. U. Füssel (Teaching and Orchestral Diploma) and Prof. Wolfram Arndt (Master Class, Podium) in 2006 at the University for Music and Performing Arts Munich. Daniel gained first orchestral experiences at various youth orchestras as well as the Schleswig Holstein Festival Orchestra. Following engagements at the National Theater Mannheim, the Tyrol Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck, the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera, the Symphony Orchestra St. Gallen and the Finnish National Opera Helsinki, he was employed as principal bass trombone at the Orchestra de Navarra Pablo Sarasate in Spain from the 2009 season onwards. Daniel counts his experiences with the Herbert-von-Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonics, where he completed his studies under Mr. Olaf Ott, as highly formative. Daniel Vesel has played as a guest in various orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonics, the State Opera Unter den Linden Berlin, the Bavarian State Opera Munich, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Finnish Radio Orchestra, the Basel Symphony Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Munich Symphony Orchestra and the Tapiola Sinfonietta among others. Daniel Vesel premiered Marco Hertenstein’s Concert for Bass Trombone and Wind Band, which was dedicated to him, and played in the concerts of the brass ensemble of the Berlin Philharmonics. Since 2010 Dani has been teaching trombone and low brass in various Swiss music schools as well as Wirkung as a freelance trombinist.
Markus Wagemann - Trombone
Markus Wagemann was born in Wipperfürth (Bergisches Land) and completed his studies under Eckhardt Treichel at the Robert Shuman University as well as under Wolfram Arndt at the University for Music and Performing Arts Munich. During his studies Markus formed the brass quintet Munich Chamber Brass, with which he won prizes at various awards such as the Koetsier-Awards in Munich and the Jeju International Brass Competition in South Korea. Following an orchestral placement at the Philharmonic Orchestra Augsburg, Markus was engaged under fixed-term contracts at the Munich Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra of the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz Munich, and the Nurnberg Symphony Orchestra. Since the beginning of the 2006/07 season he has been part of the State Orchestra Darmstadt as bass trombonist with a commitment to the contrabass trombone. Next to his engagement at orchestras Markus Wagemann is assistant lecturer for trombone at the Akademie für Tonkunst Darmstadt.
Michael Siegel - Tuba
Michael Siegel wurde im Jahr 1985 in Eschwege geboren. Nachdem er im örtlichen Posaunenchor seine ersten Erfahrungen auf den Instrumenten Posaune und Euphonium sammelte, wechselte er auf die Tuba und bekam Unterricht bei Ralf Schlecker vom Staatstheater Kassel.
Nach seinem Abitur im Jahr 2005 nahm Michael Siegel ein Tubastudium an der HfMT bei Prof. Hans Gelhar und später bei David Polkinhorn auf, welches er im Jahr 2011 mit dem Diplom abschloss. Darauf folgte noch ein Masterstudium an der HfM „Franz Liszt“ Weimar bei Prof. Walter Hilgers und Sebastian Wagemann. Von 2013-2016 studierte er zusätzlich Musik und Physik auf Gymnasiallehramt an der Universität Kassel.
Als Orchesteraushilfe war Michael Siegel bereits in vielen deutschen Kulturorchestern tätig, darunter u.a. im Staatsorchester Kassel, dem Loh-Orchester Sondershausen/Theater Nordhausen sowie dem Göttinger Symphonieorchester. Darüber hinaus ist Michael Siegel seit dem Wintersemester 2015/16 Lehrbeauftragter für die Fächer Tuba sowie Blechbläserkammermusik an der Universität Kassel.
Pascal Klaiber - Drums
Pascal Klaiber was born in Sulz am Necker in 1981. At the age of 9 he received his first drumming lessons and played in the local music association. Following training as an industrial mechanic, he began his studies in drumming under Jens Knoop and Berthold Anhalt at the Academy for Musical Art Darmstadt. Orchestral placements as well as annual contracts led to engagements at orchestras such as the State Theater Darmstadt, the National Theater Mannheim, the Philharmonic Orchestra of the City Trier and the State Theater Wiesbaden. 2007 and 2008 Pascal was a member in the Schleswig Holstein Festival Orchester. Currently Pascal is employed on an annual contract at the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne.