Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium in Frankfurt am Main has opened a bandura class — the first of its kind in the history of German higher music education. This was reported by Amal Berlin. From now on, it is possible to learn this traditional Ukrainian instrument here both at a professional level and for personal development.
The new speciality is taught by professional bandura player Svitlana Kavka. Every week, the musician travels from Cologne to Frankfurt, where she teaches students and listeners from the department for children and adults.
Dr. Hoch's Conservatory is one of the oldest and most prestigious music institutions in Germany, with a history spanning almost 150 years. Over the years, legendary pianist Clara Schumann taught here, and in the 1920s, the conservatory became one of the first in the world to introduce academic jazz studies. Today, it is the first in Germany to offer academic training in bandura playing.
‘As far as I know, there is no other university in Germany that teaches this instrument. Our conservatory is the only institution that offers higher education in the specialty “Bandura”,’ says Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium Director of Academic Management, Projects and Cooperation Caroline Prassell.
The impetus for opening the class came from a student from Ukraine, a graduate of the Stolyarskyy Music Lyceum in Odesa. The girl enrolled in the preparatory department of the conservatory and wanted to continue studying the bandura. To this end, the institution began searching for a teacher throughout the country.
‘We received a lot of applications from all over Germany,’ says Caroline Prassel. As a result, the conservatory began working with Svitlana Kavka, who now lives in Cologne.
‘The fact that the conservatory is interested in developing Ukrainian culture is extremely valuable. The opening of a bandura class at a music university in Germany is a real sensation,’ emphasises Svitlana Kavka.
Currently, there are six students in the class: one student and five listeners from the department for children and adults. Enrolment in the bandura class is ongoing. For professional training, it is necessary to pass an audition, but for amateur classes, desire is sufficient.