Diemut Poppen (Germany), viola

Diemut Poppen, born in Münster, Germany, began violin lessons at the age of seven, but changed to the viola after being exposed to it through playing chamber music. She has studied under leading players such as Kim Kashkashian, Bruno Giuranna, Yuri Bashmet, and the Amadeus Quartet. She has also studied with Frans Brüggen, Heinz Holliger, and Claudio Abbado. Poppen is co-founder of the European Chamber Orchestra and has been awarded the European Music Prize.

She succeeded Nobuko Imai in her position at the Detmold School of Music. She has been a member of the jury at several international competitions such as the ARD International Music Competition in Munich. She is also director of the Chamber Music Summer Academy in Turingen and she founded the Osnabruck Chamber Music Series. Poppen has recorded for different labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Live Classics, Cappricio, Ondine, Ars Musici, Tudor, and EMI. Her wide repertory includes the new Mijail Pletnev and Kancheli Styx concertos for viola and orchestra.

She currently teaches at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid