Curriculum Vitae

Peter Damm was born in 1937 in Meiningen/Thuringia. At the age of eleven, he began his musical education with violin lessons. First attempts on a horn followed in 1951 with Franz Nauber in Meiningen. After a short period as a forestry apprentice, he studied horn with Prof. Karl Biehlig at the Hochschule für Musik (Conservatoire) in Weimar from December 1951 to 1957.

His first steps in an orchestra Peter Damm made in Bad Berka in October 1953 and at a performance of "Hänsel und Gretel" on Christmas 1953 in Meiningen. On July 5, 1955 he made his debut as a soloist with Mozart's Concerto KV 447.

In 1957, Peter Damm began his artistic career as solo hornist at the orchestra of Gera, Thuringia (Orchester der Bühnen der Stadt Gera). In 1959, Peter Damm was engaged as solo hornist of the Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig, in which he worked with Franz Konwitschny, Vaclav Neumann and others until 1969.

From 1969 to 2002, Peter Damm occupied the position of solo hornist at the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. On his retiring, the orchestra made him an honorary member.

In 1967, Peter Damm received the title "Kammermusiker", and in 1971 the title of "Kammervirtuose" (both "Kammermusiker" and "Kammervirtuose" are titles conferred on outstanding musicians).

For many years, Peter Damm has been teaching at the Hochschule für Musik "Carl Maria von Weber" in Dresden. He has also taught international master classes, seminars and workshops in Europe, Japan and North America. Concert tours as soloist and chamber musician brought him to almost every European country as well as to the Americas and Japan. Peter Damm and "Karlchen", September 1991. Photo: © Adolf Clemens.

Since 1986, Peter Damm has been president of the International Competition for Wind Instruments in Markneukirchen. He is an honorary member of the International Horn Society and of the Horngesellschaft Bayern. His work is documented in numerous recordings, including radio productions. His extensive repertoire of solo works, chamber music and concertos ranges from 18th century works to contemporary music. Thus, Peter Damm also played in numerous first performances of contemporary works.

After 56 years, Peter Damm put his horn to a rest in 2007 after the International Horn Symposium's opening concert in La-Chaux-de-Fonds. His motto: "Finish your career as long as people still regret it..."

For his artistic achievements, Peter Damm has been honoured with several awards: