Volker Hartung is an accomplished symphonic conductor specializing in the musical and artistic development of global symphonic orchestras with over 30 years of experience impacting major musical institutions through orchestration of European classical-romantic style and sound. Able to nurture musicians into positions that leverage their talents to maximum effect. As a creative organizational leader, he is highly capable of coordinating musicians from diverse backgrounds. Origin from Cologne in Germany, Volker Hartung began learning the violin and viola at the age of nine. American scholarships enabled Hartung to study at the Juilliard School of Music in New York with Ivan Galamian, Joseph Gingold, and the Juilliard Quartet. He then studied at the California Institute of Arts in Los Angeles, with Alan de Veritch. Back in Germany, he studied conducting with Andreas Brockmann and Sergiu Celibidache. For many years, Volker Hartung has been Principal Conductor of the Cologne New Philharmonic and has appeared with the Orchestra at numerous International Music Festivals and concert tours throughout the world. Many international orchestras as the MDR Radio Orchestra Leipzig, the St. Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra, and the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, have welcomed Hartung as guest conductor. He has at his disposal an extensive repertoire that is continually growing and that he passes on to his musicians and audience in intense rehearsals and breathtaking performances.