Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 15, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The establishment of HFF’s still relatively young Film Music programme, now developed into a master’s degree, is due in large part to Professor Wefelmeyer’s exceptional commitment, which made training young artists in this specialist field possible. For many young people, Bernd Wefelmeyer has been and remains an inspiring role model, mentor, adviser and source of enthusiasm in discovering their own creative potential.
Wefelmeyer’s life’s work is also directly connected with Brandenburg. His name is associated, for example, with the Filmorchester Babelsberg, which under his direction performed numerous successful symphonic concerts, opera projects and crossover programmes. Together with many artists and the orchestra, the current production “Ost-Rock in Klassik,” conducted by Wefelmeyer, once again became a celebrated success throughout Germany. He is recognised as one of Germany’s most important composers of the 20th century, having composed and arranged more than 300 works for theatre, television and film. His cross-genre work reflects his multifaceted personality.
“The university’s appreciation concerns not only his successful teaching at HFF, his tireless pursuit of quality in artistic work and his desire to contribute to making HFF distinctive within Brandenburg’s higher-education landscape and beyond, but above all him as a wonderful person,” says HFF President Wiedemann.
Bernd Wefelmeyer was born in Berlin in 1940. He studied sound engineering at the Hanns Eisler University of Music Berlin and composition with Ruth Zechlin, Wolfram Heicking and Rudolf Wagner-Régeny. During his studies, he was pianist with Berlin’s Jazz Optimisten. He worked as a sound director in music production at Rundfunk Berlin and as a guest conductor and arranger with various major orchestras. Since 1973, he has worked independently as an arranger and composer. He was Musical Director of the theatre orchestra at Volksbühne Berlin, Chief Conductor of the Rundfunk-Stringband and Chief Conductor of Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg. In 1995, he became Professor of Film Music Composition at the Konrad Wolf University of Film and Television. He is a member of GEMA’s works and admissions committees. His work includes more than 300 television, film and stage scores for orchestras including Dresdner Philharmonie, Hallesche Philharmonie, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Westsächsische Philharmonie, Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg and Brandenburgische Philharmonie. Since 1991, he has been Honorary Professor of Media Music at the Hanns Eisler University of Music Berlin.
HFF Konrad Wolf is pleased and proud that Brandenburg’s Minister-President followed its nomination and presented Professor Wefelmeyer with the Order of Merit.
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