Christoph Poppen
Conductor
From the start of his conducting career Christoph Poppen established an international reputation for innovative programming and commitment to contemporary music. As guest conductor he has appeared in numerous Opera Houses and with major Symphony Orchestra around the world as well as imparting numerous Masterclasses.
Over the years, Christoph Poppen has held a number of significant Directorship positions in Germany. From 1995 to 2006, he was Artistic Director of the Munich Chamber Orchestra, establishing the ensemble’s new profile in a short period of time. In August 2006, he was appointed Music Director of the Radio Symphony Orchestra Saarbrücken. From 2007 until 2011 he was Music Director of the newly formed Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern. Besides Artistic Director of the International Festival in Marvão, Portugal which he founded in 2014, he is now Principal Guest Conductor of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Principal Conductor of the Kölner Kammerorchester.
Christoph Poppen was appointed professor of violin and chamber music at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, and later at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, where he was President from 1996 through 2000. From 2001 through 2005, Christoph Poppen was Artistic Director of the renowned ARD International Music Competition. Since 2003, he has held a post as professor for violin and chamber music at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich.