Inspirimus Music Festival

The first edition of the Inspirimus Music Festival took place on 17 and 18 July 2026 at Haus Inspirimus in Ferch, near Berlin.

About the Festival

The first Inspirimus Music Festival brought together outstanding international musicians for three concerts of chamber music, collaboration and artistic exchange. Across two days, the programme ranged from Mozart and Schubert to Bach, folk music and the Beatles, all presented in the intimate atmosphere of Haus Inspirimus.

Impressions (German)

  • "Das, was ich in dieser Wald Landschaft erleben durfte, war eine ganz große Kunst und eine wunderbare Überraschung. Dass Kammer Musik mich mehr berührt und verzaubert als ein ganzes Orchester der Philharmonie, war für mich eine ganz neue Erfahrung. Allen Künstlern sei Dank dafür, dass sie mich auf ihre musikalische Reise mitgenommen haben. Ich wünsche mir, dass ich bald wieder eine Einladung nach Ferch erhalte."

    Elham Peyman

  • “Ein eindrucksvolles Konzert in idyllischer Umgebung, bei dem man die Musik als auch die hochprofessionellen Musiker hautnah erleben konnte. Wir hoffen auf weitere Konzerte dieser Art!”

    Chrisitne Sobhani

  • "Was für ein Geschenk! Nie zuvor konnte ich Konzerte so intensiv und unmittelbar erleben. Besonders die räumliche Nähe zu den Musizierenden machte ein tieferes Erspüren der Musik möglich. Das Gehörte ging buchstäblich unter die Haut. Einfach großartig! Von Herzen Danke!"

    Dr. Bidjan Sobhani

  • "Was für ein Konzert, das Sonnabendkonzert. Die ganz hohe Schule mit viel Abwechslung, Virtuosität, Temperament, Innigkeit und Musizierfreude. So etwas Gutes habe ich lange nicht gehört. Es hat mich förmlich aufgefüllt. Danke!"

    Sylvia Marschall

  • "Ein wunderschönes Konzert in eben solchen Ambiente, versteckt im Wald gelegen, der Ort von hoch kreativer Aura. Sehr inspirierend und berührend. Besonders im zweiten Teil stimmte alles: das Können der Musizierenden, die musikalische Qualität der Darbietung, die Musik selbst in diesem sehr geschmackvoll gestalteten Raum."

    Juliane Ratz Brei

  • "Im Haus Inspirimus fühlt man sich geborgen wie in einer Oase, in der man tief in Klänge und Töne eintauchen kann. Gespielt von Musikern, die wirkliche Freude und Lust haben gemeinsam zu spielen und einen mitnehmen in andere Welten. Vielen Dank dafür!"

    Nikola und Wolfgang Kimlley

  • "Manche musikalischen Erlebnisse klingen nicht mit dem letzten Ton aus – sie bleiben im Herzen. Genau so war dieses Festival: Kammermusik auf allerhöchstem Niveau, getragen von einer einzigartigen Atmosphäre und einem Ort, der Begegnungen möglich macht. Besonders eindrucksvoll war die unmittelbare Nähe zu den Musikerinnen und Musikern. Anstatt in der Distanz eines großen Konzertsaals zu sitzen, war man mitten im musikalischen Geschehen und wurde von der Musik förmlich umhüllt. Diese intensive Nähe machte das Konzerterlebnis außergewöhnlich lebendig und auf ganz besondere Weise unvergesslich."

    Marianne N.

Impressions (English)

  • “What I experienced in this forest landscape was a truly wonderful form of art and a beautiful surprise. To discover that chamber music could move and enchant me more deeply than a full orchestra at the Philharmonie was a completely new experience for me. My heartfelt thanks to all the artists for taking me on their musical journey. I hope to receive another invitation to Ferch very soon.”

    Elham Peyman

  • “An impressive concert in an idyllic setting, where we could experience both the music and the highly professional musicians up close. We hope there will be many more concerts like this!

    Chrisitne Sobhani

  • “What a gift! Never before have I experienced concerts with such intensity and immediacy. The close proximity to the musicians in particular made it possible to experience the music on a deeper level. What we heard literally got under my skin. Simply magnificent! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

    Dr. Bidjan Sobhani

  • “What a concert, the Saturday evening concert. Music of the highest calibre, with such variety, virtuosity, temperament, intimacy and sheer joy in playing. I have not heard anything this wonderful in a very long time. It completely filled me with joy. Thank you!”

    Sylvia Marschall

  • “A beautiful concert in an equally beautiful setting, hidden in the forest, a place with a wonderfully creative atmosphere. Very inspiring and deeply moving. Especially in the second half, everything came together perfectly: the musicians’ skill, the musical quality of the performance, and the music itself in this beautifully designed space.”

    Juliane Ratz Brei

  • “At Haus Inspirimus, you feel sheltered like in an oasis, a place where you can immerse yourself deeply in sound and music. The musicians play with genuine joy and enthusiasm, taking you with them into other worlds. Thank you for this wonderful experience!”

    Nikola und Wolfgang Kimlley

  • “Some musical experiences do not end with the final note. They stay in the heart. That is exactly how this festival felt: chamber music of the highest level, carried by a unique atmosphere and a place that makes meaningful encounters possible. Particularly remarkable was the immediate proximity to the musicians. Instead of sitting at a distance in a large concert hall, one was right in the midst of the musical experience, almost enveloped by the music. This intense closeness made the concert experience exceptionally vivid and unforgettable in a very special way.”

    Marianne N.

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Moments from the Festival

A glimpse into the music, atmosphere and shared moments of the first Inspirimus Music Festival.

Featuring excerpts from Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C major, performed at Haus Inspirimus in July 2026.

PROGRAM:

Friday, July 17 - 20:00, Haus Inspirimus

Mozart & Wein

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento in E-flat major for String Trio

Intermission

Franz Schubert
Piano Trio in E-flat major

Saturday, July 18 - 15:00, Haus Inspirimus

Schubert & Kaffeehaus

Franz Schubert
String Quintet in C major

Intermission

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478

Saturday, July 18 - 20:00, Haus Inspirimus

Barock & Volksmusik & Beatles

An evening spanning centuries of music, from Baroque masterworks to contemporary arrangements.

Artists

Xenia Jankovic

Cello / Founder / Artistic Vision

Xenia Jankovic is an internationally acclaimed cellist, chamber musician, and pedagogue with a worldwide artistic career. Born into a family of Russian and Serbian musicians, she made her debut with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of nine. Her artistic development was shaped by Mstislav Rostropovich, Pierre Fournier, André Navarra, György Sebök, and Sándor Végh.

She has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras including the London Philharmonic, RSO Berlin, Budapest Philharmonic, and Madrid Radio Orchestra, and performs regularly in major concert halls worldwide. Her recordings include labels such as Channel Classics, CPO, and Calliope Records.

Alongside her solo career, she is deeply engaged in chamber music as a member of ensembles such as the Hamlet Piano Trio and the Uriel Quartet. Her artistic work is marked by a continuous exploration of core repertoire through different interpretative, historical, and instrumental perspectives, including period instruments and historically informed practice.

From 2006 to 2017 she was Artistic Director of Musikdorf Ernen. In 2018 she founded the Inspirimus Academy near Berlin. She has been Professor of Cello at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold since 2004, and previously taught in Würzburg, Belgrade, and Zagreb.

Irena Josifoska

Cello / Artistic Director

Irena Josifoska is an award-winning cellist active as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. She is First Prize winner of the Gabrielli International Cello Competition in Berlin and recipient of the Prix Jean-Nicolas Firmenich at the Verbier Festival Academy, along with multiple international distinctions.

She has performed across Europe and the Americas with leading orchestras and at festivals such as Verbier, Berliner Festspiele, Kronberg Academy, and La Folle Journée. She has collaborated with artists including Guy Braunstein, Sharon Kam, and Vadim Gluzman.

In 2025, she became Professor at the Peter Cornelius Conservatory in Mainz and co-artistic director of the Inspirimus Chamber Music Festival.

She studied with Xenia Jankovic at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold and Jens Peter Maintz at the Universität der Künste Berlin, completing Master Solo Studies and continuing Konzertexamen studies. She was Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and a member of the Villa Musica Foundation.

Her artistic development has been shaped by mentors such as Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

Michael Cohen-Weissert

Piano

Michael Cohen-Weissert is a composer, pianist, and conductor whose artistic work spans classical, jazz, folk, and contemporary music. Born in Jerusalem and based in Berlin, he combines performance, composition, and improvisation into a broad artistic practice.

As a pianist and conductor, he has performed with orchestras including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano, and Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock. As a chamber musician, he collaborates with artists such as Claudio Bohórquez, Jens-Peter Maintz, and Máté Szücs.

His compositional work includes more than forty pieces for the project Lebensmelodien, as well as works performed by ensembles such as Philharmonix. His opera AMALIA! premiered in Bolzano in 2018.

He is founder of the Charles Rosen Ensemble and Junction Ensemble and co-artistic director of the festival Éole en Musiques in France.

He studied piano, composition, and chamber music in Berlin, Vienna, and Paris, working with teachers including Jacques Rouvier, Elena Mendoza, and the Artemis Quartet.

Veriko Tchumburidze

Violin

Veriko Tchumburidze is an internationally active violinist who gained international recognition after winning the 2016 Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition at the age of 20. Since then, she has built a career as a soloist and chamber musician known for her expressive imagination and artistic individuality.

She performs with orchestras such as the Warsaw Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and appears regularly at major festivals including the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and Beethoven Easter Festival. Her collaborations include artists such as Sol Gabetta, Leif Ove Andsnes, Maxim Vengerov, and Tabea Zimmermann.

A strong advocate for contemporary music, she has premiered works written for her by composers including Anastasia Laghidze and Alexandre Kordzaia. Alongside her solo work, she is active in chamber music projects and ensembles..

Born in Georgia and raised in Turkey, she studied in Vienna with Dora Schwarzberg and later with Ana Chumachenco. She has attended masterclasses with leading musicians and participated in the Verbier Festival Academy. She plays a Giacomo Zanoli violin from 1730.

Martin Moriarty

Viola

Martin Moriarty is an Irish violist recognized for his international career as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He is a prizewinner of several international competitions and has performed in major venues including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Tonhalle Zürich, and Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel.

He has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Baden-Baden Philharmonic and Amsterdam Sinfonietta, and is a passionate interpreter of contemporary music, collaborating with composers including Brett Dean, Sebastian Fagerlund, and Garth Knox.

As a chamber musician, he performs regularly with leading artists and ensembles such as the Meta4 Quartet, Michelangelo Quartet, and Vadim Gluzman. He is also active at festivals including IMS Prussia Cove, Verbier Festival, and Krzyżowa Music.

He is an experienced teacher, giving masterclasses at institutions such as Bard College and the Royal Conservatory Antwerp, and regularly teaching at international festivals.

He studied in Dublin, Amsterdam, Detmold, and Zürich with teachers including Nobuko Imai and Lawrence Power. He was the first Irish musician selected as soloist for the Verbier Festival Academy and a stipendiat of the Villa Musica Foundation

Heather Cottrell

Violin

Heather Cottrell grew up in Sydney, Australia, where she began playing the violin at the age of three. At 18, she became a member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. She later moved to Europe to study with Igor Ozim, and continued her studies with Ana Chumachenco and the Alban Berg Quartet.

After holding several concertmaster and principal positions in Switzerland and the Netherlands, she joined the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich in 2008 as principal second violin, where she remained for twelve years. Since 2023, she has been working as associate concertmaster at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin, where she lives with her family.

Alongside her orchestral career, she is a dedicated teacher and works with students of all ages at the municipal music school in Berlin-Charlottenburg.