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Dr Elmar Walter is new head of degree course Folk Music

Dr Elmar Walter is new head of degree course Folk Music

8. November ’24

Since 1 October, Dr Elmar Walter has been the new course director and lecturer for Folk Music at our university. In addition to his work at the HMTM, he is also director of the Berufsfachschule für Musik Altötting.

As head of the Folk Music degree course, Elmar Walter is responsible for coordinating the Folk Music department as well as basic courses in the Folk Music degree course. This includes subjects such as »History of Regional Folk Music« and »Folk Music Studies«, as well as the practice-orientated seminars »The Practice of Folk Music« and »Folk Music in Context«. Elmar Walter will also work on further developing the degree course options in line with the times.

Born in Traunstein/Chiemgau in 1979, Elmar Walter studied bass tuba at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich and the Mozarteum University in Salzburg and initially worked as an orchestral musician. From 2008 to 2022 he was head of the Folk Music department of the Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatpflege e. V., since October 2022 he has been a teacher and since 2024 director at the Berufsfachschule für Musik Altötting.

As a tuba player, he has gained musical experience in numerous orchestras and chamber music ensembles such as the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Bläserphilharmonie Mozarteum Salzburg, Münchner Symphoniker and Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt. He is currently a member of the Grassau Brass Ensemble and the Immling Festival Orchestra. Elmar Walter is also active as a lecturer, jury member in various competitions, composer and arranger.

Studying Folk Music at the HMTM

The HMTM is the only university in Germany to offer Folk Music as a degree course with a teaching profile. Ensemble playing, singing and dancing and their innovative teaching are an important part of the course against the background of changing regional music traditions. Students receive artistic and pedagogical qualifications in their main instrument. Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree course, graduates receive a teaching qualification for Folk Music and for their respective main subject instrument.