Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen

The orchestra is the only one to perform regularly in the historic Villa Hügel. Young soloists have been chosen to also enjoy a stage for their performances. Artists such as Christoph Eschenbach, Maria Kliegel, Nils Mönkemeyer, Sabine Meyer, Vadim Repin and Christian Tetzlaff appeared with the orchestra early in their career. The orchestra has played also in Germany and Europe, including Austria, Italy, Lithuania, Switzerland. A 2010 tour led to Algeria. They have performed at festivals such as Rheingau Musik Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival and Schwetzinger Mozartfest. The orchestra is a regular partner of the Essener Bachchor and has accompanied other choirs such as the Rheingauer Kantorei. Guest conductors have included Marc Piollet, Peter Schneider and Lothar Zagrosek. In 2015, the orchestra played a charity concert at the Aachen Cathedral. In the 2016/17 season, the orchestra scheduled concerts also in the Zeche Zollverein.
Dressel was the first chief conductor, succeeded by Heribert Beissel, Alexander Schwinck, Karl-Heinz Bloemeke, Stefan Fraas and Achim Fiedler (from 2006). The current chief conductor, Johannes Klumpp, has held the position from 2013.