Florian Peelman is one of the leading violists of his generation, recognized for his versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. Born in Camperdown, Australia, and holding Belgian-Australian nationality, he studied at renowned institutions including the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin, where he completed his Master’s degree with highest distinction under Walter Küssner. He is currently a viola professor at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin, where he is also deeply engaged in pedagogy. His students have been awarded positions in prestigious institutions such as the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic and the Staatskapelle Berlin, and regularly perform with leading ensembles across Europe.
As an orchestral musician, Florian Peelman has held principal viola positions with the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, the Hamburg State Opera, and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He is regularly invited as guest principal violist by major orchestras including the Bavarian State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, WDR Symphony Orchestra, and Munich Philharmonic. He has also performed with the Berliner Philharmoniker and collaborates frequently with leading ensembles across Europe.
An active chamber musician, founding the Boccherini Trio he has collaborated with distinguished artists such as Kristian Bezuidenhout, Alexander Melnikov, Ronald Brautigam, and the Quatuor Van Kuijk, among others. He has also been a member of the ARSIS4 string quartet and is an alumnus of the European Chamber Music Academy, where he worked with mentors such as Hatto Beyerle. As a soloist, he has performed a wide range of repertoire from Mozart to contemporary works, appearing at international festivals and venues including the Canberra International Music Festival and the Cologne Philharmonie. His performances include concertos and contemporary compositions such as Andrew Ford’s Unquiet Grave and Pierre Charvet’s And Death for viola and electronics. His artistic profile is further complemented by regular invitations to give masterclasses and participate in international festivals across Europe, Australia, and Latin America.
