Ulrike Danhofer

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 Symphony Orchestra.

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.