The son of an architect and a teacher, he began playing the piano at the age of five and considered pursuing a career as a pianist as a young man. But ultimately, he found that too uncertain. Music remains a favorite hobby to this day.
In addition to his music, which he enjoys pursuing with his children, he and his wife are often out in nature and, whenever possible, take outdoor trips in their vintage VW bus. They camp in the wilderness, cook soup and other delicacies on a gas stove, and canoe on lakes and rivers. This is why Sweden is one of his favorite countries, which he has often explored with his family. Sometimes, the Elbe River – or another body of water in Lower Saxony – is enough for a few days. Dr. Tom Steinmetz is connected to the region.
Rüdiger Penthin, a member of the Music Working Group and the board, introduces himself below:
Born in 1959. Born in Cologne. Father of three children. He received his first piano lessons at the age of 6. At 17, he received a scholarship as a junior student at the Cologne University of Music, specializing in piano. At 18, however, he decided to study medicine from 1980 to 1986 at the University of Cologne. He received his doctorate in 1989.
After completing his specialist training (University Children’s Hospital Aachen) and working as a senior physician at the Satteldüne Children’s Pulmonology and Allergology Clinic (Amrum), he established his own pediatrician practice in Schönberg, Holstein, in 1993, specializing in behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence. He completed additional training in psychotherapy from 1992 to 1996. He is the author of several books on children and parents. He is the co-founder of the Probstei Parents’ Workshop, a parent education center.
In 2000, after a long break from performing as a soloist, he made his solo debut with a piano recital at “Schönberg Kulturell” featuring works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, and Brahms. In the following years, he presented a variety of chamber music programs, including the Mozart Piano Concerto in F major with the Kiel Chamber Orchestra in 2004, and song recitals with Matthias Klein since 2006. He has performed the major Schubert and Schumann song cycles jointly. In 2006, he founded the fusion jazz band “Delicious Date,” which was awarded the Bechstein Prize in 2008. Since 2018, he has been a member of the board of the Probstei Cultural Association.
Since 1994, freelance composer and pianist, giving lectures on his own work and the Iannis Xenakis-Stochastics connection between scientific thought and composition, and lecturing on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since 1996, practicing as a physician. In 1998, he founded the label “klaviermusik.at” and has released numerous CDs since then. In 2000, the CD “Vienna Concert 2000” was released by Extraplatte. Since 2002, he has had his own practice for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Vienna.
2004 CD “Quiet Nights” released on Ö1 2009 CD “Bright Side” released on Ö1 2011 Book “The Healing of the Center” 2013 Practice relocated to Wiener Neustadt 2014 Book “Daily Healing” and CD “Music for Healing the Center” (Ennsthaler) 2015 Book “The Chinese Medicine Cabinet”; founding of the Austrian Society for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Wiener Neustadt, President of the OGTCM
2016 Own TCM courses in Wiener Neustadt, CD “Quiet Moments” 2017 CD “Bach-Hindemith” on klaviermusik.at; book “The Golden Way of the Center” (self-published) 2018 Practice in Bad Sauerbrunn, CDs “Blossoms of Romanticism” and “Requiem for Franziska” and book “Cookbook for Healing the Center”
2019 CD “SONATA”, book and CD “The Sound of the Center”, CD “Games of Orchestra”, String Quartet I & II, Symphony No. 1 (“DISTROFIA”), debut novel “LAUFHAUS” with audio CD “LAUFHAUS Book Music” 2020 CD “Mozart Plus”, CD “Vienna Calling”, Symphony No. 2 (“FANFARA”); books: “Chinese Medicine Against Cancer”, “World Yoga” 2021 CD “Vienna Calling”, books: “The Miracle of the Immune System”, “Cookbook for Healing the Center II”
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
1995: Lower Austrian Music Factory Prize and commission for a choral-orchestral piece 1996 and 1998: First Austrian to win the Luigi Russolo International Composition Competition in Varese, Italy.
Christos Pantazis (born October 9, 1975 in Hanover)[1] is a German physician and politician (SPD). He has been a member of the German Bundestag since October 26, 2021. Previously, he was a member of the Lower Saxony State Parliament from February 2013 to November 2021 and deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group there from November 2017.
1998 Joined the SPD 2001 – 04 Elected to the Seelze local council (where he was parliamentary group leader) 2003 – 05 Spokesperson for the Jusos in the SPD district of Hanover 2003 – 04 Deputy Chairman of the Jusos Lower Saxony 2009 Member of the Executive Board of the SPD Braunschweig 2011 – 15 Deputy Chairman of the SPD Braunschweig 2011 Member of the Executive Board of the SPD parliamentary group in the city council 2012 – 13 Chairman of the SPD Bebelhof – Viewegsgarten 2013 – 21 Member of the Lower Saxony State Parliament for constituency 1 | Braunschweig-Nord 2015 Chairman of the SPD Braunschweig | Member of the Executive Board of the SPD district Braunschweig 2016 – 21 Member of the Association Assembly in the Greater Braunschweig Regional Association 2017 – 21 Deputy Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in Lower Saxony State Parliament
2017 – 21 Spokesperson for the Braunschweig Group at the state level 2019 Deputy Chairman of the SPD Braunschweig District 2021 Member of the German Bundestag for the constituency | Braunschweig 2022 Deputy Health Policy Spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group 2022 Spokesperson for the Braunschweig Group at the federal level 2023 Member of the Executive Board of the SPD Braunschweig District 2023 Deputy Chairman of the Lower Saxony/Hanover State Group in the SPD parliamentary group
George Polyrakis was born in Sfakia, Crete. He studied military medicine and received his doctorate from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He trained as a surgeon and subsequently specialized in vascular surgery at Hammersmith Hospital in London. He currently works as a surgeon in Thessaloniki, where he lives.
He has published 83 scientific articles in Greek and foreign medical journals, given dozens of presentations at medical conferences, and participated in the organization of numerous conferences. He is a member of the Hellenic Surgical Society, the Surgical Society of Northern Greece, the Medical Society of Thessaloniki, the Society of Physician Writers, and the Society of Writers of Northern Greece, and was a member of the International College of Surgeons.
During his studies, he worked as an amateur journalist in Chania and wrote two plays that were performed at student performances. During his studies, he wrote another play that was performed by students during Student Week.
The artist Matthias Schrenk (left) and Bernd Salfner in front of the oil painting “Young Man with Fish.” Photos: Rosemarie Tillessen | Image: Rosemarie Tillessen
After graduating from Klettgau Gymnasium in Tiengen, he received a scholarship from Norway and began his artistic studies at the Ringsaker Folkehögsskole. While on a scholarship in Norway, he decided to perform civilian service at the Reichenau State Psychiatric Hospital instead of completing his military service. Following this, he studied art education for three semesters at the Freiburg University of Education, then transferred to the independent art school in Stuttgart. After passing the entrance exam at the Karlsruhe Art Academy, he was given the opportunity to continue his artistic studies in Gerd van Dülmen’s painting class.
He has been an ophthalmologist in Rheinfelden since 1996. All of the approximately 50 works on display in an exhibition in 2023 – except for one – were created in the past two years: “Thanks to the coronavirus, I had more time for the first time, not just at night or on weekends.” In conversation with Salfner, he explains how his paintings are created – without a fixed plan, from the subconscious: “I just start.” Then he often paints over them, changes them. Viewers frequently discover traces of overpainted work. “I always stick to the representational: here a head, a face, a figure. I’m not that interested in landscapes.” When asked whether his paintings are melancholic, he affirms: “There is always melancholy in art.”
“I find the sound of a carillon very beautiful. It’s a joy to be making such wonderful music. I also like that during a performance, no-one actually sees you up in the tower. The audience is outside, enjoying the day and listening to the music.
Minako Uchino began her music studies at age 4 in Tokyo and started playing organ in grade 8. She pursued a medical career, completing her training as a radiation oncologist. In 2009, while studying medical education at the University of Toronto, Dr. Uchino discovered the carillon at Soldiers’ Tower and began studying under Roy Lee.
She has played recitals in Toronto, Ottawa, and Japan, including for the 150th Anniversary of Friendship between Japan and Belgium recital at the Belgian Embassy of Tokyo in 2017. In 2019, she became the first Japanese member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. Since 2022, Dr. Uchino has studied carillon, organ and figured base full-time at Carleton University in Ottawa. She is currently at the Royal Carillon School in Belgium, pursuing her passion for music.
“Flying in the Sky” composed by Koichi Sugiyama. “Flying in the Sky” is the song played during the flying scenes in the game “Dragon Quest.” This piece was arranged for performance on a glockenspiel and recorder. This piece was performed at Carillon Day (Beiarddag) in May 2024 in Mechelen with Japanese recorder player Gosuke Nozaki. Please excuse the poor camera position, as only the glockenspiel is captured… (I’m truly sorry, Mr. Nozaki.)
A musette piece entitled “Carillon” was performed by an ensemble consisting of a real carillon and musette. Musette: Gosuke Nozaki; Glockenspiel: Minako Uchino
“Furusato” is one of the most popular songs from the Japanese children’s songbook. Performed by GCNA member Minako Uchino in Itami, Japan.
Stephanie Arndt studied human medicine, economics, and criminology. She was an officer in the German Armed Forces, a top athlete who participated in six world championships, and has lived in a shared house with her horse, Nasar, since Hurricane Xaver in December 2013. As the Pippi Longstocking of the 21st century – nonconformist, unconventional, self-sufficient – Stephanie Arndt embodies the dream of an independent life, opens hearts, and enables fantasies and dreams. For young and old.
From the beginning of my medical studies, I had the desire to dedicate myself to both medicine and music. However, during my medical studies, I lacked the time for regular organ lessons. Therefore, I had no choice but to continue my education self-taught. After passing my medical state examination and receiving my doctorate, I began studying music in Cologne and completed my studies with a concert diploma in organ playing.
Dr. Olaf Zenner and his wife with the President of the GdO, Prof. Dr. Matthias Schneider, on the occasion of the award of honorary membership of the GdO. (Photo: Roland Behrens)
