Rainer Seegers (born 6 August 1952 in Dessau) is a German percussionist,[1] former principal timpanist of the Berlin Philharmonic, tutor of the European Union Youth Orchestra and guest professor at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler". Seegers is also a timpani soloist who has championed the unusual repertoire for timpani and orchestra.
Rainer Seegers | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 6, 1952 Dessau, East Germany |
| Occupation | Percussionist |
| Instrument | Timpani |
| Member of | Berlin Philharmonic |
Biography
editSeegers first musical influence was his grandfather, who was a trumpetist with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig. After his family moved to Hanover, he studied percussion at the local Musikhochschule,[2] although he had been performing professionally with the Hanover Staatsoper. Soon after he got his first principal position as timpanist of the Braunschweig Staatstheater, he left this position to join the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra. From 1977 to 1982 he performed with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. In 1982, Seegers joined the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra and was their principal timpanist until the summer of 2019.[3]
Seegers is also a timpani soloist who has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Berliner Symphoniker.[4]
Rainer Seegers served as faculty member of the Musikhochschule Hannover, the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Orchestra Academy and as a visiting professor at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin.
Seegers is known today as one of the best living timpanists, due to his fluid motions, full tone, and relaxation.
References
edit- ^ "Prof.Rainer Seegers". Berliner Philharmoniker. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ "Prof.Rainer Seegers". Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler". Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ Philharmoniker, Berliner. "Rainer Seegers: a portrait". Digital Concert Hall. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ "Berliner Symphoniker:Saison 2008/2009". Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2009.