International Days of Music Hesse Main-Taunus Hofheim
The International Days of Music Hesse Main-Taunus Hofheim is an annual cultural event in Hofheim am Taunus, Germany, usually held in May or June. Musicians from around the world come to participate. The event is supported by the State of Hesse, the Main-Taunus district, and the city of Hofheim.
It started in 1983, founded by violinist Alois Kottmann and the city of Hofheim near Frankfurt. It focuses on classical violin and piano.
In its early years, organizers worked to build contacts with musicians in Eastern Europe. Local residents offered free board and lodging for participants, creating strong bonds and raising the level of music.
The festival aims to bring people together and to teach violin and piano. There are two main concerts: an opening concert by the teachers and a closing concert by the course participants. A public symposium is held each year on topics like performance practice, music education, and musicology.
The daily violin and piano courses are open to the public to watch. There is no age limit; participants should be at least at an advanced student level and can be students, teachers, or professional musicians.
Alois Kottmann leads the violin course; Günter Ludwig leads the piano course. A chamber orchestra, Kottmann-Streicher, conducted by Boris Kottmann, assists the courses and performs the closing concert with the participants.
The repertoire highlights Bach and Mozart violin and piano concertos. The Development Association International Days of Music Hesse Main-Taunus Hofheim provides much of the funding, based on a fund from Ottilie Kunz and Josef Kunz. Sponsors include the Hessian Ministry of Sciences and Arts, a regional bank, the city of Hofheim, and various companies.
During the festival, the Alois Kottmann Award is given to outstanding international violinists in a separate competition. The award honors a classical violin performance in a canto-style. The ceremony is led by the Lord Mayor of Frankfurt, Petra Roth.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:45 (CET).