PETER EICHER (Germany)

Peter Eicher was born in Germany in 1944. He studied piano at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Munich and at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. His most important teachers – Friedrich Wührer and Kurt Leimer – were leading representatives of the great Viennese tradition and the Leimer – Gieseking circle. Additional inspiration came from classes with eminent artist from the East and West, among them Dimitri Beshkirov, Gerald Moore and Eduardo del Pueyo.

Several awards led Mr. Eicher to concert appearances in numerous European countries as well as in America and the Far East. In Japan, for instance, the artist performed in more then twenty cities. Within the widespread repertoire of Mr. Eicher, what played an important role and what was highly acclaimed both by the critics and the audiences, were the comprehensive performances of the major piano works by Schubert, Brahms, Debussy and Schönberg. Next to his concert activities, teaching has always been an essential element of Peter Eicher’s life. His pedagogical activity gained even more importance for him, after an injury which forced him to reduce his concert performances.

At Mannheim Music School Mr. Eicher has established a pre-college educational centre, which is being attended by young talents coming from various countries. In addition he leads a class of international piano students at the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe. Many of his students have become international prize winners.

Mr. Eicher’s insight into the art of piano playing has been highly appreciated. Invitations to hold master classes and to lead seminars have taken him to more then thirty countries. He visited prestigious music institutes and festivals in Europe, North, Central and South America as well as in the Near and Far East. Mr. Eicher worked over forty times as a jury member at international piano competitions.

Peter Eicher is not only a member of numerous cultural associations, but also the founder of the International Mannheim Piano Courses, which give students the opportunity to work with renowned musicians. He is also the artistic director of the yearly Lapland Piano Festival (Pianistit Tunturissa), which presents international talents in concerts organized in thirty different places in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia.

...back