10 Facts About Helmut Winschermann

Helmut Winschermann was a German classical oboist, conductor and academic teacher.

Helmut Winschermann founded the Deutsche Bachsolisten ensemble for historically informed performances, and was their conductor from 1960 until his death.

Helmut Winschermann first studied violin at the Folkwangschule where he was pointed at the oboe which he studied with Johann Baptist Schlee.

Helmut Winschermann served in the military in World War II.

Helmut Winschermann held the professorship until his retirement in 1985.

Helmut Winschermann maintained a touring schedule as a soloist, and frequently collaborated with the Cappella Coloniensis, the Chamber Orchestra of the Saar conducted by Karl Ristenpart, and Karl Munchinger's Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra.

Helmut Winschermann founded the instrumental ensemble Deutsche Bachsolisten in 1960, in order to provide historically informed performances of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his baroque contemporaries.

Helmut Winschermann initially divided his time between playing the oboe and conducting the group, but later focussed on conducting solely.

In 2010 the group celebrated its 50th anniversary in a concert at the Beethovenhalle in Bonn, with the 90-year-old Helmut Winschermann conducting his own orchestration of Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Helmut Winschermann was found dead at his home in Bonn on 4 March 2021, eighteen days short of his 101st birthday.