Violinist Nicolas Koeckert takes up the role, following the orchestra’s international recruitment drive for its first full season
The United Arab Emirates National Orchestra (UAENO) in Abu Dhabi has announced the appointment of German violinist Nicolas Koeckert as its first concertmaster, effective October 2025.
Koeckert was born in Munich and studied at Hochschule für Musik Würzburg with Grigori Zhislin, followed by studies with Zakhar Bron at the Musikhochschule Köln.
He became the first German prizewinner at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 2002, having previously won first prize at the Novosibirsk International Competition for Young Violinists and the Culture Prize of Novosibirsk.
Koeckert has played with orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bamberger Symphony, Montréal Symphony, the Russian National, the KBS Symphony and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.
He has served as guest concertmaster with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and was first concertmaster of Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal until August 2022.
Koeckert said he was ‘delighted’ to take up his new position.
’The orchestra has been newly founded and will pursue the innovative idea of combining Western and Emirati music,’ he said on social media.
‘It is a most interesting initiative, and I am very excited soon to be joining this creative musical journey.’
Koeckert’s appointment follows the UAENO’s recruitment drive for the orchestra’s first season, with applicants from more than 65 countries. Managing director Sheikha Alia confirms that the first season will be dedicated to introducing the orchestra to audiences across the UAE, with a future shift in focus to establish a musical identity under music director Amine Kouider.
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