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Stephan Schardt has made a name for himself as a soloist and chamber musician on both the historical as well as the modern violin. His stylistically diverse interpretations are characterized by a distinct interest in the historical development of music aesthetics. Extensive research in the area of violin music includes rarely heard works to his concert programs. His wide-ranging repertoire of violin and other chamber music ranges from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries but also spans to compositions of the 20th century. Schardt´s performances are played on the appropriate instrument.
He studied violin and historical performance practice with Prof. Franzjosef Maier and Primoz Novsak at the Conservatory of Cologne as well as at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna on a DAAD scholarship. There, he pursued additional studies in piano, music theory and German literature.
From 1995-99, Stephan Schardt was 1st concertmaster at the Saxony Theatre and appeared as soloist with various orchestras, where he personally advocated for the performance of rarely heard works. His extensive orchestral experience was supplemented by guest appearances with the Dresden Staatskapelle and the WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne. As a concertmaster, he was a guest at the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and the Camerata Salzburg.
As of 2000 to 2005, Stephan Schardt was the concertmaster of Musica Antiqua Cologne and performed with the ensemble around the world as a member of the chamber music group, as the concertmaster of the orchestra and as a soloist. In this capacity, he also recorded a number of CDs for Deutsche Grammophon and other labels.
After the dissolution of Musica Antiqua Cologne, Stephan Schardt returned to the violin solo repertoire and played chamber music programs with Contrapunctus Köln. He has performed as lead soloist with the Kammerakademie Potsdam. He has had a close artistic collaboration with pianist Philipp Vogler since 2008. He is the artistic director of Ensemble 07/Freies Kammerochester Köln since 2010.
