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The German harpsichordist and conductor, Andreas Westermann, started taking piano lessons already in his early childhood he. He later learned to play the flute before discovering the harpsichord and historical performance practice. After 4 years of private studies with Olga Watts (Munich), he studied to become a high school teacher at the University of Music and Theater in Munich, specializing in "early music" with Professor Christine Schornsheim. In addition to extensive musical training, he also received instruction in conducting choirs and ensembles, e.g. with Prof. Martin Steidler. From 2014 he studied a Specialized Master of Arts in figured bass and ensemble conducting with Professor Jörg-Andreas Bötticher, Professor Jesper B. Christensen and Professor Andrea Marcon at the renowned Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He graduated with honors in 2016. In 2015 he was selected as the sole harpsichordist for the European Union Baroque Orchestra conducted by Danish harpsichordist Lars Ulrik Mortensen. He has also played with renowned musicians such as Rachel Podger, Alex Potter, Amandine Beyer and Maggie Faultless. In 2016 he won second prize at the International Gebrüder Graun Competition with the Ensemble Quartet á 5 (Trossingen).
In addition to active concert activities in Switzerland and Germany, Andreas Westermann's focus and passion lies in accompanying melodic instruments or in conducting from the instrument. In 2021 he was invited as a répétiteur and lecturer at the Baroque Academy in Gstaad with Maurice Steger, Max Volbers, Laura Schmid and others. He is particularly interested in the Italian music of the late 17th century and the tonal aspects in the execution of the basso continuo of this time, such as the compositions by Antonio Veracini and the cantatas by Cataldo Amodei. He is also a member of the ensemble 'La Casella', a trio formation with soprano and cornett. In 2019 he took over the musical direction of the St. Gallen ensemble 'Il Prete Rosso'. Most recently he can be heard with the Accademia Barocca Lucernensis on the recording "Sacred Music for Dresden Cathedral" with works by Johann Adolf Hasse and Jan Dismas Zelenka. In 2019 he played J.S. Bach's Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) with this ensemble under the direction of Javier U. Illian at the KKL Luzern. In the summer of 2021 he made a guest appearance in Santiago de Compostela with the Münchener Kammerorchester and Ramon Tebar. Andreas Westermann currently lives in Basel. |
