Tarek El Barbari, a graduate of Hartmut Höll and Mitsuko Shirai’s art song class (2020–2024) and a lecturer in vocal accompaniment for the past three semesters, was awarded third prize at the International Hugo Wolf Competition in Stuttgart last week, together with his duet partner soprano Johanna Beier.
A total of 99 young song duos from 35 countries across all continents entered the 2026 competition – a new record!
In his work as a lieder pianist, Tarek El Barbari combines his passion for the piano, singing and poetry. His recitals are characterised by creative programme design, with the aim of broadening the boundaries of the repertoire and making art songs accessible to a wider audience. His recitals have taken him to venues including the Toscana Hall at the Würzburg Residence, the Maison Heinrich Heine in Paris, the Christuskirche in Karlsruhe, the Alter Ratssaal in Baden-Baden and the Kempff Festival in Positano. From an early stage in his studies, he placed particular emphasis on art song interpretation, which he cultivated through intensive collaboration with the Finnish art song pianist Pauliina Tukiainen. He completed a degree in school music, specialising in piano, at the Freiburg University of Music, as well as a degree in German Studies at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg.
He was able to further his artistic studies during the summer term of 2017 as part of the Erasmus programme at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona, studying under, amongst others, Prof. Jean-François Dichamp (piano) and Prof. Assumpta Mateu (Lied and singing).
He subsequently completed his studies in the art song class of Prof. Hartmut Höll and Prof. Dr h.c. Mitsuko Shirai at the Karlsruhe University of Music, graduating with distinction.
He gained further inspiration through masterclasses with Anne Le Bozec, Christoph Prégardien, Brigitte Fassbaender, Javier Arrebola, Jan Philip Schulze, Axel Bauni and Daniel Fueter.
Tarek El Barbari works closely with the baritone Lorenzo de Cunzo (recipients of the Riemschneider Foundation’s 2022 duo scholarship), the soprano Johanna Beier and the tenor Ferdinand Dehner.
From the summer term of 2025, he held a teaching post in vocal accompaniment at the Karlsruhe University of Music for three terms.