Prof. Manfred Bründl

Manfred Bründl studied a combination of classical and jazz music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. Since 1987, he has always led his own groups, whose music can be heard on various CDs. He has played with internationally renowned artists such as Albert Mangelsdorff, Tomasz Stanko, Heinz Sauer, Leo Wright, Herb Ellis, Martial Solal, Norma Winstone, Charlie Mariano and Craig Harris.

On behalf of the Goethe-Institut and the Federal Foreign Office, he has toured Africa, Asia, Canada, Latin America and, most recently, Georgia with the German-Georgian music and dance project SAMAIA 2020. He received the Jazz Prize of the City of Frankfurt as well as the SWR Jazz Prize and recorded film music with Till Brönner. Four years ago, he founded the German-Syrian ensemble SADAQA, which successfully performed at the Weimar DNT and the Rudolstadt Festival. 2023 saw the world premiere of his orchestral work SUITE VII with the Staatskapelle Weimar. Further tours are planned for 2024 on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office, including to Georgia.

Manfred Bründl is the initiator and artistic director of the world's first transcultural jazz prize, the ACHAVA Jazz Award, and has been artistic director of the International 'Jazzmeile' Workshop since 1999. He has been a professor at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar since 1996.