Mathias Rickert

Mathias Rickert studied music education at the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts, with a focus on choral and orchestral conducting; he also graduated in political sciences from the University of Mannheim. During his studies, Rickert took part in the European Academy of Young Choral Conductors at Cork (2001) and Timmendorf (2004), in the context of which he worked together which select young choir directors from across Europe. In the following years he drew valuable inspiration from master­ classes with renowned choral conductors such as Prof. Georg Grün (Saarbrücken), Jonathan Velasco (Manila), and Gary Graden (Stockholm). After a highly successful appearance with the Junger Kammerchor Rhein­Neckar at the seventh edition of the Deutscher Chorwettbewerb in 2006, Mathias Rickert was awarded a scholarship by the Deutscher Musikrat. He has been teaching at the St Raphael­Gymnasium (a grammar school) at Heidelberg, where he dedicates himself to promoting young musicians. A second prize at the Landes­ chorwettbewerb as well as invitations for CD recordings produced by the SWR (South West German broadcasting sta­ tion) and invitations from the Ministry of Culture document his successful work with young choirs. In addition to the post at his grammar school, Mathias Rickert teaches choral conducting at the Mannheim Univer­ sity of Music and Performing Arts and undertakes voluntarily work as the deputy musical director of the Badischer Chor­ verband.