International Competition for Music, Choir & Dance 

ICMCD 2014 - Hannover, Germany 

Introduction Competition Judges and Committee Members:

President North-German Music Association, Dr. Kerstin Weigand

She engages in cultural exchange activities, serves as festival director, project director and producer in the field of opera. Through her projects, culture influences remote areas of the North-German state and permeates everyday life. Under her leadership, the association has organized various types of musical performances, including classical music, opera, jazz, dance, choir and so on.

North-German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Cellist Oliver Mascarenhas

Oliver won the first prize in the Federal German Classical Music Awards. He is a regular member of the Radio Orchestra in Hannover and acts as one of the people in charge in the North-German Music Association.

Music School Hannover, Administrator and Pianist Katharina Sellheim

Katharina was born into a musical family - her father was a famous professor of music. She won numerous awards in piano competitions in Germany and other European countries. Currently, she teaches at the Hannover College of Music & Drama - Piano Department, where Yundi Li studied. She also serves as administrator of the city music school.

Vienna Conservatory, Piano Professor Klaus Sticken

He is known for his excellent teaching as well as performances, which have been broadcast live on many occasions. Berlin was an important stop in his educational career. He was a lecturer at the Berlin Conservatory and moved to the Vienna Conservatory a few years back.

Austrian Culture Exchange Association, Bassist Urs Johnen

Urs has multiple roles in the cultural field. Graduated from the School of Music Weimar, he shifted to cultural management. He organized a number of projects at the Vienna Musikverein, held senior positions in cultural institutions in the famous city of Munich, lead the Philharmonic Film Orchestra Berlin and founded the Black Forest Jazz Festival.

North-German Military Symphony Orchestra, Anton Stöger

As a drummer in the orchestra Anton played for Germany's highest ceremonial reception to welcome international guests in Germany. He continued his studies in Berlin and Hannover and gained a dual degree in teaching and performance. Coming from the beautiful Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle area, he has been a long-time member of the century-old local ethnic Symphonic Band, in which five generations of his family played and acted as permanent conductor. He served as head of the North-German Symphony Orchestra.

Head of North-German Dance School, Ballet Dancer Gabi Haegele

Gabi was ballet dancer at Hannover Opera before she became a dance teacher. Her long-time experience as dancer and teacher has shaped her successful career. As head of her own Dance School she now includes dance from all different styles from classical ballet to jazz and modern.

Tenor & Moderator Volker Thies

Volker was engaged with the Opera House Hannover for several years. As jury member of an international choir competition and as moderator for numerous events, he has established himself in the North-German culture scene.