Our mission
The Friends Association supports the Karlsruhe University of Music and its students materially and ideologically
- through competitions, scholarships and individual grants for students,
- through its own concerts and discussion formats at the university,
- through the promotion of special events and study programmes offered by the university,
- and through attendance at events held by the University of Music.
How do we implement this?
The Friends' Association generates its income through membership fees and donations. The larger the Friends' Association and the donations received, the greater the opportunity for funding and support. Members of the Friends' Association enjoy discounted access to the university's events.
What is the history of the Friends Association?
The Friends Association of the University of Music was founded in 1976 on the initiative of Prof. Dr. Heinz Kunle, then Rector of the University of Karlsruhe, who remained its director until 2002. The Heinz Kunle Competition, which is now held every two years and has been dedicated to ‘new concert formats’ since the 2024/25 competition, is named after him.
Until 2023, Dr. h.c. Hans Hachmann, long-time music editor at SWR, was the head of the Friends' Association. The Hans Hachmann Scholarship, awarded annually in different areas of study at the university, is named after him. Several times a semester, Hans Hachmann gives members of the Friends' Association an insight into the university and a very personal impression of the artistic teachers in a discussion format called ‘FreundeskreisPERSÖNLICH’ (Friends' Association PERSONAL). Claus Temps (1st chair), Monika Rihm (2nd chair), André Burg (treasurer) and Christine Gehringer (secretary) currently manage the Friends' Association, supported by managing director Tatjana Funk.
What can you do?
It's quite simple:
Become a member of the Friends of the Karlsruhe University of Music! With your membership fee and, if applicable, your donation – both of which are tax-deductible – you will be supporting the work of the Friends. At the same time, you will become part of a large and very diverse circle of people who feel connected to the university and its students through their love of music and interest in the university. The Friends would also be delighted to receive sponsorship from companies.