Born in Berlin, Germany, violinist Karsten Windt performs as a freelance chamber and orchestra musician and teaches music in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
After completing his studies in Berlin and London with a master’s degree, he became 1st violinist with the Deutsche Symphony Orchestra Berlin (DSO) from 1991-2011, with which he won a Grammy for the best opera recording under the baton of Kent Nagano in 2011. For ten years he also led the Akanthus Ensemble Berlin, a versatile chamber music group that he had founded based on a piano quartet. Karsten enjoys returning to his hometown for a few concerts every year.
A dedicated teacher, he was the director of the DSO String Academy before moving to California in 2011, where he led the Marin Academy Advanced Chamber Music program in San Rafael until 2019 and maintains a private teaching studio.
In his free time Karsten is a passionate sailor with a captain’s license aboard his 36ft sloop.
Links
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin - Karsten's musical home from 1991 until 2011, performing in the Berlin Philharmonie and abroad. He still plays with the orchestra when in Europe from time to time.
Bellarosa Strings - A group that Karsten frequently joins for music at weddings and special events in the SF Bay Area and the Wine Country including contemporary pop, rock and jazz arrangements.
The Philharmonic Kitchen - Food-and-music-events for a special experience of the senses.
Forest Hill Musical Days - The chamber music festival that initially brought Karsten to San Francisco and made him fall in love with the Bay Area.
InterMusic SF - Promoter of chamber music in the Bay Area and fiscal sponsor of Salon Classique.