Gunhard Mattes – Founder and Head Conductor of the INSO Lemberg

Gunhard Mattes, born in Zurich and now at home Bremgarten, founded his own chamber orchestra at the age of fifteen. Before dedicating himself to his conducting career, Mattes studied oboe in Zurich under André Raoult and in Freiburg in the Breisgau under Heinz Holliger. After

completing his studies and various master courses under leading international artists, he was appointed soloist with renowned orchestras at the age of 24. This was followed by a period of intensive collaboration with superb artists, including Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Riccardo Chailly, Seiji Osawa, Franz Welser-Möst, David Zinman, Luciano Pavarotti and Anne-Sophie Mutter. He appeared as a soloist in Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Austria, Turkey and in the USA, as well as in festivals in Bergamo and Hohensalzburg.

His career as conductor brought him together with Michael Dixon in Hamburg, as well as Myung-Whun Chung and Hans Graf in Vienna. After several posts as conductor, he founded the Lemberg Festival Orchestra in 1998. He maintains a special friendship with Arvo Pärt, whose composition "Messe Caecilia, Virgine Roman" Mattes presented at the Festival Contrasts 2003 in Lemberg. In 2004, Gunhard Mattes was named "Artist of the Year" in Lemberg in honor of his musical accomplishments. In the same year, he conducted the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich for the first time and also debuted with the China National Symphony Orchestra in Beijing. He toured China in 2005 with the INSO Lemberg (formerly the Festival Orchestra Lemberg).

Gunhard Mattes regularly appears in Germany, Poland, Luxemburg, Ukraine and Switzerland, and also conducts the National Opera on the Lemberg Ballet Evening, which is presented live on public television. In 2006, he also conducts the Lemberg Philharmonic and assumes a guest professorship at the Music Academy.

Gunhard Mattes is Spiritus Rector of the Lemberg New Music Festival. He is launching at workshop entitled "Orchestral Fascination" and also organizes study trips to Lemberg. His many CD recording, lauded by music critics, document his vast and multifaceted dedication to music.