Johannes Jahnel studied in Berlin at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music with Werner Scholz and Michael Erxleben. As a DAAD scholar, he went to the United States where he was taught by Nelli Shkolnikova and Mauricio Fuks at the Indiana University in Bloomington for two years. The prize-winner of international competitions was a scholarship holder at the German National Scholarship Foundation and the International Music Academy in Germany.

When performing, the musician is involved as an entire being – physically, mentally and emotionally. There is profound non-verbal communication both between the musicians and between the ensemble and the audience. In an orchestra, many participants work together towards this goal, encouraging and complementing one another. There are few professions with such a profound group dynamic.

The violin is a particularly colourful instrument with an incredible number of possibilities for shaping sound and forming tones. There is a wide spectrum of technical options; even polyphony is possible on the violin. I also believe that no other instrument can touch the soul like the violin.

Remind myself that the ability to play a concerto is a gift from heaven. Eat something. Tune myself inwardly to the first bars of the concerto. On very relaxed evenings, I simply chat with colleagues.

Chicken, prepared by my wife. Either in a pressure cooker with lots of vegetables, herbs and garlic, or baked the Honduran way with beer and ketchup. Unbelievably tasty!