about

Friederike Scheunchen is a German conductor in the field of opera, orchestra, contemporary and experimental projects.

She works internationally with a wide range of orchestras and ensembles and being also a specialist in contemporary music she has premiered more than 250 pieces.

Currently she is working as conductor and assistant to GMD André de Ridder at Theater Freiburg as well as being invited a guest-conductor.

Since 2021 she is supported by the Forum Dirigieren of Deutscher Musikrat, since 2023 being on their prestigious list of 'Konzertförderung'.

Conducting engagements have taken her to the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg with Ensemble Resonanz + Dirk Rothbrust, to Harvard (Cambridge, USA), to festivals such as the Wittener Tage für Neue Kammermusik and the Taschenopernfestival Salzburg as well as to the Laeiszhalle Hamburg with Matthew Herbert for the live scoring of a Bundesliga soccer match.

Friederike Scheunchen is a German conductor working in the fields of opera, orchestra, and contemporary as well as experimental projects. Internationally active, she collaborates with a wide range of orchestras and ensembles, and as a specialist in contemporary music she has conducted more than 250 world premieres.

Her guest conducting has brought her to renowned orchestras and ensembles including Ensemble Modern, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker (debut 2026), Göttinger Symphonieorchester, Philharmonisches Orchester Trier, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Klangforum Wien (debut 2027 at the Konzerthaus Wien), Ensemble Recherche, Ensemble Resonanz, Ensemble Ascolta, Schlagquartett Köln, the Blackpage Orchestra, Bundesjugendorchester, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, the SWR Vokalensemble, the WDR Rundfunkchor, and Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg.

She has appeared at venues and festivals such as the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Konzerthaus Wien, Konzerthaus Freiburg, Oper Frankfurt, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Lokhalle Göttingen, Harvard University (USA), Taschenopernfestival Salzburg, Wittener Tage für Neue Kammermusik, Donaueschinger Musiktage, Moers Festival, impuls Festival Graz, Davos Festival, Bludenzer Tage zeitgemäßer Musik, Museum Tinguely Basel, ORF Studios, Podium Festival Esslingen, Gare du Nord Basel, ECLAT Festival Stuttgart, PANTOPIA Festival Berlin, FRAU MUSICA NOVA Festival, SPARK Festival Cologne*, and many more.

From 2021 to 2023 she was a fellow of the Akademie Musiktheater heute, and since 2021 she has been supported by the Forum Dirigieren of the German Music Council, being part of its prestigious Concert Promotion programme since 2023. In 2024 she received a stipend from the Reinhold-Schneider Prize awarded by the City of Freiburg.

She is founder, co-curator, and conductor of Ensemble Scope, dedicated to intermedial projects. At the University of Music Freiburg, she leads the Master’s program Interpretation of Contemporary Music, conducts the Ensemble for Contemporary Music, and teaches chamber music for new music. She has gained further artistic impulses through masterclasses and assistantships with conductors including Peter Rundel, Johannes Schlaefli, Christoph Altstaedt, Bas Wiegers, Yuval Weinberg, Georg Grün, Manfred Schreier, Tilman Michael, and Sebastian Tewinkel.

She is currently conductor and assistant to General Music Director André de Ridder at Theater Freiburg, while also appearing regularly as a guest conductor.

//Ensemble Modern, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker (debut 2026), Göttinger Symphonieorchester, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Klangforum Wien (debut 2027, Konzerthaus Wien) Ensemble Recherche, Ensemble Resonanz, Philharmonisches Orchester Trier, Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg, Blackpage Orchestra, Bundesjugendorchester, SWR Vokalensemble, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, WDR Rundfunkchor (Forum Dirigieren), Ensemble Ascolta, Schlagquartett Köln and many more.

//Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Harvard (Cambridge, USA), Taschenopernfestival Salzburg, Konzerthaus Wien, Wittener Tage für Neue Kammermusik, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Oper Frankfurt, Moers Festival, Festspielhaus Baden Baden, impuls Festival Graz, Lokhalle Göttingen, Donaueschinger Musiktage, WDR Funkhaus, Gare du Nord Basel, Davos Festival, Podium Festival Esslingen, Frankfurt LAB, Konzerthaus Freiburg, Baden Baden Pfingstfestspiele, FRAU* MUSICA NOVA FESTIVAL, SPARK Festival Köln, Bludenzer Tage zeitgemäßer Musik, Museum Tinguely Basel, ORF Studios, ECLAT Festival, PANTOPIA FESTIVAL Berlin, and many more.

// Akademie Musiktheater heute 2021-2023

// 'Konzertförderung' Forum Dirigieren (Deutscher Musikrat) since 2021

//2024: Stipend of Reinhold-Schneider Preis by the city of Freiburg

//Founder, co-curator and conductor of Ensemble Scope for intermedial projects.

//University of music Freiburg: leader of the masters studies 'Interpretation Contemporary Music', conductor of Ensemble for contemporary music and teacher for new chamber music

//masterclasses + assistances with: Peter Rundel, Johannes Schlaefli, Christoph Altstaedt, Bas Wiegers, Yuval Weinberg, Georg Grün, Manfred Schreier, Tilman Michael, Sebastian Tewinkel, and many more