Vita

Martin Funda (born 1985) is Professor of Chamber Music and Violin at the State University of Music and the Performing Arts Stuttgart (HMDK) as of winter semester 2018/2019.

 

Martin Funda combines tradition with modern relevance, consistently proving how stimulating a multi-faceted and varied career can be, and how it can bring about great musical flexibility, whether as a soloist, guest concertmaster, play-lead musician, artistic director or pedagogue. Chamber music remains, however, his core focus, primarily as leader of the Armida Quartett.

 

It is this form of music-making that he always draws inspiration from, in order to communicate effectively with other musicians and to establish the place of music in other settings. As a professor he sees it as a key priority to pass on to young musicians the necessary knowledge and skills required for a versatile musical career, and to support them on the path to becoming individual and self-reliant musicians.

 

Martin Funda is a chamber and orchestral musician, soloist and pedagogue. He achieved international acclaim as a founding member and leader of the Armida Quartett. After winning the Concours de Geneve in 2011, they were awarded 1st prize, the audience prize and six further special prizes at the 2012 ARD International Music Competition. This established the Armida Quartett as one of the most sought-after young quartets worldwide.

Martin Funda’s desire for a diverse musical career was undoubtedly influenced by his upbringing; the son of an orchestral musician and a music teacher, he instinctively combines intensive work with the Armida Quartett with a passion for teaching and mentoring larger ensembles.

 

In October 2018 he became Professor of Chamber Music at the State University of Music and the Performing Arts Stuttgart (HMDK), and he previously held teaching positions at the University of the Arts Berlin (UdK) and the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar (HfM).

 

Martin Funda enjoys an equally varied career as an orchestral musician and regularly plays as a substitute in the Berlin Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Berlin and Kammerorchester Berlin.

 

He currently works as guest concertmaster with Deutsche Oper Berlin, Berliner Barocksolisten, Deutsche Kammerorchester Berlin and Kölner Kammerorchester.

 

As a soloist, Martin Funda performs with a variety of German orchestras, conducted by Gabriel Feltz, Bruno Weil and Niklas Willen, among others.

 

Beginning as a young student of Prof. Anne-Katrin Lindig at the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, he went on to study with Prof. Nora Chastain at the University of the Arts in Berlin. Additional musical inspiration has come from Antje Weithaas, Norbert Brainin, Kolja Blacher, Donald Weilerstein, Tabea Zimmermann, Günter Pichler, Natalia Prischepenko and the Artemis Quartett.

 

The Armida Quartett are the artistic consultants for the new edition of the complete Mozart String Quartets by the publisher G. Henle. This edition will be presented by the quartet in a new complete recording of the works in 2021 and their fingerings and bowings will be made available in the G. Henle app.

 

Armida Quartett

www.armidaquartett.com

“No doubts: Armida Quartett is one of those young, up-and-coming ensembles that lets us discover music in a new way. We needn’t worry about the future of chamber music any more. It has long since begun.”

RONDO Magazin, 02.01.2016

 

“Magic is an art that the Armida Quartett have mastered.”

Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2013

 

The Armida Quartett was founded in 2006 and has maintained the same members ever since.

 

Members:

 

Martin Funda - 1. Violin

Johanna Staemmler - 2. Violin

Teresa Schwamm - Viola

Peter-Philipp Staemmler – Violoncello

 

On tour

 

The Armida Quartett plays worldwide at prestigious concert series and is a regular guest at international festivals.

Upcoming tour dates and an overview of previous concerts can be found here.

In 2018-19 the Armida Quartett is Artist in Residence with the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

The quartet also gives masterclasses, both in Germany and abroad.

 

 

Prizes

 

2012

1st prize, audience prize and six further special prizes at the ARD International Competition 2012.

 

2011

1st prize and audience prize at Concours de Geneve (Geneva International Music Competition)

 

2009

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Competition

Scholarship from the Federal President

 

International Chamber Music Competition Hamburg - Haydn prize

 

Awards

 

2016-2017: ECHO Rising Stars

2014-2016: BBC New Generation Artist

2014: Nordmetall Ensemble prize - Festspiele Mecklenburg Vorpommern

Scholarships from Irene Steels-Wilsing Stiftung and Schierse Stiftung Berlin

 

2013 Debut CD - Quarterly Critics' Choice from the German Record Critics' Award, with works from Béla Bartók, György Ligeti and György Kurtág

 

Studies

 

Rainer Schmidt (Hagen Quartett), Reinhard Goebel (historically informed performance practice), Artemis Quartett

Masterclasses

 

Walter Levin, Alfred Brendel, Eberhard Feltz, Alban Berg Quartett, Arditti Quartet, Guarneri Quartet

www.armidaquartett.com