19th Karlsruhe Dialogues – Speakers

Timo Gerstner, born in 1989 in Rastatt, began his musical career in 1995 in a recorder group. From the age of nine until his graduation from high school, he took lessons in classical percussion with Horst Friedel. In the winter term 2009/2010 Gerstner began his studies of music education with a major in percussion at the University of Music Karlsruhe under Prof. Isao Nakamura. Amongst others, he attended master classes given by Hakim Ludin, Florian Alexandru-Zorn, and Claudio Spieler. Since 2010, Gerstner has been working as a teacher of classical percussion, drum set, and percussion at the Drummer Circle Karlsruhe.

The percussionist and drummer Jonas Völker was born in Sinsheim, Germany, in 1988. At the age of seven, he started his musical career as a snare drummer with the Waibstadt marching band. From 1998 to 2008, Völker took drum lessons with Jörg Burgsthaler. From 2009 to 2013, he studied music education with a major in percussion at the University of Music Karlsruhe under Prof. Isao Nakamura. He attended various master classes, amongst others given by Jost Nickel, Hakim Ludin, and Phil Maturano. Through intensive lessons with Claudio Spieler and Hakim Ludin, Völker discovered his passion for world percussion. Since 2010, he has been working as a teacher of classical percussion, drum set, and percussion at the Drummer Circle Karlsruhe. In 2011, he was awarded with a scholarship by ‘Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Oberrhein’.