Trombone player Erik Konertz A musical crossover artist!

From 2015 to 2019, Erik Konertz studied jazz trombone at the University of the Arts Bremen with Ed Kröger, Ingo Lahme, Sebastian Hoffmann, Wei Zhu, and Christof Lehan. From 2019 to 2022, he studied for a Dr. Langner Jazz Master’s degree with a focus on trombone and composition/arrangement at the Hamburg University of Music and Theater. During this time, he received instruction from Nils Wogram, Dan Gottshall, Ansgar Striepens, and Wolf Kerschek. He completed both courses of study with top marks. In 2020, he also received a scholarship from the Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation.

During his bachelor’s studies, he was a member of the Hamburg State Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Lars Seniuk, who also became his teacher and mentor. From 2018 to 2020, Erik Konertz was a member of the German National Youth Jazz Orchestra (BuJazzO).

Tours took him across Europe to Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and many other countries. He has performed at the Elbphilharmonie, the Cologne Philharmonic, the Essen Philharmonic, and many other concert halls with renowned artists such as Randy Brecker, John Clayton, Jiggs Whigham, Michael Philip Mossman, Nils Wogram, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Django Bates, and many more.

Erik Konertz can be heard in numerous big bands in Germany as a permanent member or regular substitute, such as the NDR Big Band, the Samuel Restle Big Band (formerly: Restle Wögler Big Band), the Birdland Big Band, the Big Band Fette Hupe Hannover, and the Jazzkombinat Hamburg. He has also contributed musically to various big band albums by the NDR Big Band, the Bundesjazzorchester, and the Pascal Klewer Big Band. Erik Konertz is also a member of the Hamburg collectives “JazzWerk” and “Hamburg Art Ensemble.”

Erik Konertz is also active in countless smaller jazz ensembles. With the Olesch:Konertz Duo, the debut album “New Places” will be released in September 2025 on the renowned label nwog records of trombonist Nils Wogram. Another duo with Wogram and Konertz’s solo program have received great attention in professional circles.

As a guest musician, Erik Konertz performs in a variety of styles, as evidenced by concerts with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Babylon Orchestra Berlin, as well as concerts at major festivals such as the Baltic Soul Weekender and the Elbjazz Festival. As a soloist, he can be heard on various albums, such as the 2021 CD “Nachtschwärmer” by German rock and pop musician Klaus Lage.

Erik Konertz is also one of the most active musicians on the North German musical and theater scene. He can be heard regularly in Stage Entertainment musicals in Hamburg such as “The Lion King,” “Hercules,” and “MJ – The Michael Jackson Musical.” In 2022, he was principal trombonist at the Tecklenburg Open Air Theater in the production “Der Besuch der Alten Dame” (The Visit), where he will return in 2025 for the production “Titanic.” He has also performed in successful theater productions at Theater Bremen with “Bang Bang” and “Die Rote Zora und ihre Bande.” He also plays as a substitute at the Hansa Theater “(Cabaret”), St. Pauli Theater (“Die Dreigroschenoper”), and as deputy musical director at the Thalia Theater (“Shockheaded Peter”).

Erik Konertz is also a sought-after teacher in northern Germany. He has given numerous workshops, most recently at the Bundesbegegnung Jugend Jazzt (Federal Youth Jazz Meeting). His pupils and students regularly achieve success, such as being accepted into the Federal Jazz Orchestra or internationally renowned music academies. Since October 2022, he has been a lecturer for jazz trombone and big band at the University of Music, Drama, and Media in Hanover, and since April 2025 for jazz trombone at the University of Music in Lübeck.