began to play the guitar at the age of seven and is one of todays most respected Guitarists and Guitar pedagogues. Thomas graduated from the Musikhochschulen of Aachen, Cologne/Germany (Classes Tadashi Sasaki, Hubert Käppel) "with distinction" and was awarded the "Solistendiplom der Musikakademie Basel"/Switzerland (Class Oscar Ghiglia). Amongst his teachers were also artists such as the members of the AMADEUS- String Quartett, Manuel Barrueco, Leo Brouwer, David Russell, Karl Scheit and John Williams. He was also awarded several scholarships by the DAAD and he was Finalist and prizewinner at several international guitar competitions (International Scandinavian Guitar Competition, Finland, Certamen International "Andres Segovia" und Certamen International "Francisco Tárrega", Spain).

Since 1984 Thomas has performed as a soloist, with orchestras, as a chamber musician and together with the DUO SONARE , one of the outstanding guitar ensembles active today in more than 40 countries worldwide including the most important guitar festivals. Numerous Radio- and TV- productions as well as 8 CD - productions with the DUO SONARE all of which have won great acclaim from both critics and public alike, witness the outstanding quality of his work as well as concerts with friends like Oscar Ghiglia or Pavel Steidl. Together with the Duo Sonare Thomas was the first to open the repertoire of the Classical Guitar to music by composers such as Chick Corea, Frank Zappa or Mike Oldflield.

Alongside his activities as a performing artist Thomas Offermann has developed a growing reputation as a teacher, both in Germany and abroad. His sensitive and meticulous approach, together with an extraordinary capacity for motivation, have made him a popular and much appreciated guitar trainer among students of all levels and backgrounds.

At the end of 1996 Thomas became seriously ill: the entire left side of his body, including his left hand, became totally paralysed within the course of one day. This led to a deep break in his career, both as a soloist as well as with the DUO SONARE, which at that time was at the peak of its international success. Owing to his incomparable energy and determination he cured himself almost totally and already in April 1997 DUO SONARE were able to go back on stage and in the fall of 2000 they even recorded a new live- CD dedicated to works of Joseph Haydn. However, over time Thomas came to realise that it will take more time to completely restore his left hand capabilities to the same level as before, and so in October 2002 DUO SONARE gave what was to be their last concert for the present and coming seasons: Thomas decided to make a pause from his concert activities, which has allowed him time for reflection and to commit to paper the many aspects of his musical knowledge and experience.

The special nature of this experience has nevertheless afforded Thomas the opportunity to gain unique insights into all manner of aspects concerning artistic creativity, guitar playing and musicianship - understandings which only this personal history has enabled him to acquire. And to share it with his students. His researches on the Wholistic Guitar Technique made him an highly respected advisor in the Guitar world, lectures on this topic brought him invitations to important Guitar Festivals (Extracts from lectures). Already several generations of guitar students from all over the world have profited from his unique musicality, enthusiasm and didactic skills.

He regards his work to be essentially the training of young musicians under optimal artistic guidance so that they may develope artistic personalities that can prevail in today's musical world.
His teaching methods are quite original and unique: the atmosphere in his lessons is open-minded, creative and concentrated at the same time. Thomas approaches music and technique in a way that everybody can easily understand, through precise, effective analysis and creative use of metaphor. He succeeds in awaking more consciousness in the student's playing and helps him to overcome anxiety. He sets very high standards for his students yet always providing the means to accomplish them. For Thomas Offermann music is artistic expression and not the mindless repetition of mechanically learned exercises.

Prof. Thomas Offermann currently directs one of Germany's most progressive guitar classes at the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater" [University of Music and Drama] in Rostock.

Since its establishment in 1998 his guitar class in Rostock has attracted students from all over the world. He enables his students to gain experience at highly acclaimed occasions: there is an annual concert of his class at the famous Guitar Concert Series in Bonn/Germany as well as in Berlin, TV programmes with his students, live radio concerts, concerts with the Norddeutsche Philharmonie - for instance in summer 2003 with Rodrigos Concierto de Aranjuez.

Thomas Offermann has also been a guest teacher at some of the world´s most respected music colleges, including Bremen, Yale, Eastman, Manhattan, as well as in Szczecin, Nishni Nowgorod, Minsk, Saigon and Hanoi. He has given masterclasses at many internationally established guitar festivals, such as Vienna, Belgrade, Esztergom (Hungary), Bath (England), Liechtenstein, Gargnano (Italy), Mikulov (Czech Republic), Burgos (Spain), Saint Paul (France), as well as in Poland, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Singapore, Vietnam and India, not to forget DUO SONARES highly successful annual masterclass in Heek (Germany) and many other classes elsewhere in Germany.

Often Thomas Offermann is asked to be a member of national and international Guitar competitions.

http://www.thomasoffermann.com