Patrick O'Byrne, professor of piano, confirmed in office as dean

The Music Department Council of the Bremen University of the Arts has elected a new dean for the Department of Music: Professor Patrick O'Byrne succeeds Prof. Jörg Birkenkötter as dean, Prof. Markus Schieferdecker is deputy dean, and Prof. Maria Kowollik takes over as dean of studies.

Since 2002, pianist Patrick O'Byrne has been HfK professor of piano. He has performed worldwide as a soloist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Symphony, Bochumer Sinfoniker, New York Virtuosi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie under conductors such as Sir Charles Groves, Franz-Paul Decker, Kenneth Klein, and Albert Rosen. Born in Dublin and raised in New Zealand, the pianist has received international acclaim for his interpretations of contemporary, French and Spanish music, among others, and his repertoire encompasses every style.

"I am very much looking forward to an equally intensive and constructive collaboration with my colleagues," says Patrick O'Byrne. "Together with my deputy Markus Schieferdecker, Professor of Jazz Double Bass, and the Dean of Studies Maria Kowollik, Professor of Vocals, who was elected on April 01, 2021, we will set ourselves the goal of transparently representing the interests of the Department of Music both internally and externally, and in doing so further strengthen the interconnections between the study programs and the potentials of a Department of Music as part of a University of the Arts. Our different musical orientations also reflect the range of the Department of Music," adds O'Byrne.

Status 15 December 2020