Ulrike Danhofer was born in Graz
and studied violin with Prof.
Christos Polyzoides at the
University of Music and Dramatic
Arts in Graz. In 1983 she passed her
final examination with honors and
received the Acknowledgement Prize
of the Austrian Federal Ministry of
Science and Research. Following that
she completed repertoire studies
with Prof. Franz Samohyl in Vienna
and from 1984 to 1987 additional
studies in Prof. Max Rostal’s master
class at the Bern Conservatory in
Switzerland. In 1987 she received
her soloist diploma.
Master classes with Igor Oistrach,
Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Sandor Végh,
Valery Klimov and Wolfgang Marschner
as well as collaboration with Lord
Yehudi Menuhin and Tibor Varga
provided her with additional
important artistic impulses. Ulrike
Danhofer has been awarded prizes and
scholarships by many competitions
and foundations. She very often
performs as a soloist and chamber
musician in Europe and Asia. She has
given solo concerts with the
Slovakian Philharmonic Orchestra,
Bern Symphony Orchestra, Duisburg
Symphony Orchestra, Italian
International Orchestra, Capella
Istropolitana and the Graz
SymphonyOrchestra.
Ulrike Danhofer has performed at
well-known festivals such as
Klangbogen Wien, Wien Modern,
Carinthian Summer, Styriarte,
Steirischer Herbst, Eggenberg Castle
Concerts and the Festival della
Valle d‘Itria. For many years she
was duet partner with the famous
composer and pianist Ivan Eröd.
From 1990 to 2000 Danhofer was the
first concertmistress of the Graz
Symphony Orchestra under the
conductors Fabio Luisi and Milan
Horvat. From 1996 to 2000 she was
also artistic director of the
orchestra as well as of the Styrian
Society of Music Lovers. During this
time her collaboration valuably with
Bruno Canino, Gerard Caussé, Thomas
Hampson, Kim Kashkashian, Alfredo
Perl, Pepe Romero, Heinrich Schiff,
Pieter Wispelwey and others. From
1988 to 2002 Ulrike Danhofer taught
at the University of Music and
Dramatic Arts in Graz. Since 1994
she has also taught at the
University of Music and Performing
Arts in Vienna, where she has been a
full professor of violin since 2002.
Ulrike Danhofer teaches at
international summer courses as well
as for the Vienna Jeunesse Orchestra
and the European Philharmonic
Orchestra. She also acts as a juror
at competitions and in 2004 was
named Austrian President of the ESTA
(European String Teachers
Association). Ulrike Danhofer plays
a violin made by Nicolaus Gagliano
in 1762.
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