Alexander Wollheim was born in 2000 in Berlin to a Greek-German family and grew up musically between his hometown and the Pelion Music Festival. He made his Greek debut in 2019 with two concerts at the SNFCC for the 20th anniversary of the Pelion Music Festival. In March 2024, he participated in the educational programs of the Molyvos International Music Festival alongside clarinettist Odile Ettelt. This week, he is participating in the 13th Chania Chamber Music Festival.
When and how did you first come into contact with music?
I was fortunate to grow up in a musical family and, from a very young age, had direct contact with the sounds of classical music. The impetus, however, came when we were in Zagora for the Pelion Music Festival seminars for my brother, who played the violin. I was four years old and was so impressed by Schumann’s piece Der Wilde Reiter that a child played there. As soon as we returned to Berlin, I said, “Mom, I want to start piano, and next year I want to play this piece at the seminar too.” That’s how my musical career began at the age of four.
How did you choose the instrument you specialized in?
My first instrument was the piano, which I started at the age of four with my mother, and alongside the piano, I also began playing the violin. After a few years of lessons, my violin teacher suggested I start the cello because she believed it would suit me very well. After the first lessons, I loved it so much that from the age of seven, it became the instrument that has accompanied my life to this day.
Who or what prompted you to pursue music professionally?
The summers I spent in my childhood and youth in Greece, specifically at the Pelion Music Festival, playing music and meeting many good musicians and friends who inspired me.
Where did you study and which teachers shaped you?
I began my university studies in the city where I was born, Berlin, first for a Bachelor’s with Danjulo Ishizaka and then a Master’s with Nicolas Altstaedt and Troels Svane. In addition, chamber music lessons with members of the Artemis Quartet, with Eberhard Feltz and Tabea Zimmermann, positively influenced my musical career.
Have you participated in competitions? Was there one that decisively propelled your professional career?
I participated in a few competitions, but the truth is it wasn’t my favorite activity. Nevertheless, successes, such as the second prize in the Gabrielli competition (2019) during my studies, strengthened my self-confidence and helped me solidify my decision to pursue a musical career.
When and where did you make your first public appearance?
When I was five or six years old, as a pianist at the Estonian Embassy in Berlin. At that time, I played Schumann’s Der Wilde Reiter.
Which of your performances to date will remain unforgettable?
I have many pleasant and positive memories from my public performances. My favorite concerts are when I play chamber music. Specifically, when I played Schubert’s String Quintet with friends, and that’s when the Textura ensemble was formed in June 2023, of which I am still a member.
Furthermore, it was a great honor for me to participate as a member of the Karajan Academy with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Herbert Blomstedt in Bruckner’s 9th Symphony.
What are your preferences in choosing your repertoire? Favorite works, composers… Which repertoire do you feel suits you best?
From a young age, I enjoyed playing romantic repertoire, which is abundant for the cello. In recent years, I’ve started to reconcile with other works from various musical eras, both old and new. My favorite composers are perhaps Bach, Brahms, Mahler…
What musical dream would you like to fulfill?
As a young musician, one always has idols who influence their sound and expressive interpretation. The desire to collaborate with them becomes more intense over time. For me, it would be a dream to one day play with violinist Isabelle Faust.
How would you suggest we approach young people to get them involved in classical music?
I believe the best way to encourage young people to engage with classical music is to continue playing myself with unwavering interest and enthusiasm, and perhaps I can influence the young people in my environment.
What difficulties does a young musician face in Greece and the world today?
I have nothing to add to this question.
Besides music, what are your favorite activities?
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, playing chess became my hobby. First online, and later, much more enjoyably, in “real life.” I have a great interest in good works and books.
Besides that, I enjoy hiking in nature with my friend, the clarinettist Odile Ettelt, who is also playing at the Chania Chamber Music Festival this year.
Biography
Alexander Wollheim was born in 2000 in Berlin to a Greek-German family. He received his first cello lessons from Professor Wayne Foster Smith. From 2017 to 2022, he studied with Danjulo Ishizaka at the University of the Arts (UdK) Berlin. From 2022, he continued his studies with Nicolas Altstaedt and Troels Svane at the Hans Eisler Academy (HfM) Berlin, where he completed his Master of Arts. He will continue at the same Academy from 2025 for his Konzertexamen. Alexander also attended chamber music masterclasses with musicians such as Tabea Zimmermann, Eberhard Feltz, and members of the Artemis Quartet. He also gives many concerts as a member of the Textura ensemble, the Aeonas Trio, and the 2 Cities Celloquartett.
In December 2022, he participated in the BIS company’s CD production with violinist Ulf Wallin, featuring works by the Swedish composer Alan Petersson. In October 2019, Alexander shared the second prize with Benjamin Kruitof in the XIV. Gabrielli-Wettbewerb at the University of the Arts Berlin. In the 2023 German Competition, he won a scholarship and an award from the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.
Since 2019, he has been a scholarship holder of Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Berlin e.V. From 2021 to 2023, he was a scholarship holder of the Ferenc-Fricsay-Akademie of the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin. From 2023 to 2025, he was a member of the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been playing a cello by Stefan-Peter Greiner since 2019.
