The Hilaris Quintet, consisting of Ida Reimer (flute), Kai-Wen Chuang (oboe), Jonas Kalin (clarinet), Emma Wiese (bassoon), and Marit Burkhardt (horn), was founded in Würzburg in October 2023.
Portrait (in German)
“Hilaris” is the Latin word for “cheerful” and refers to the young ensemble’s joyful and rousing style of music-making.
In July 2024, the woodwind quintet impressed the jury of the Wolfgang Fischer and Maria Fischer-Flach Competition with their energetic charisma and playful precision, winning second prize. They have also impressed many lecturers at various chamber music courses, most recently at Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland e.V. They receive regular chamber music lessons from Andreas Freitag, among others.
The ensemble reaches a wide audience with a variety of concert formats. In addition to classical formats, projects such as children’s concerts are part of the instrumentalists’ artistic work. They create varied programs with their colorful instrumentation—always with the intention of introducing their audience to the repertoire for woodwind quintet.
Ensemble Philosophy
For us musicians of the Hilaris Quintet, playing chamber music together is more than just making music together. Rather, we see chamber music as a form of communication. We share complex emotions with each other, supporting and accompanying each and every one of us. We see our quintet as a space for ideas, where we can freely explore ensemble playing, repertoire, playing techniques, and forms of interpretation. Understanding, support, and equality are our foundation. The Hilaris Quintet not only offers us room to grow musically and technically, but our joy in music also grows steadily at the same time.
Our goal is to spread chamber music with effortless ease and to inspire many experienced listeners, as well as newcomers, with our energetic charisma and convince them of our craftsmanship, our music.
Ida Reimer
Ida Marie Reimer (born in 2001 in Braunschweig, Germany) has been studying flute at the University of Music Würzburg with Prof. Stefan Albers since October 2020. She has played in orchestras such as the Landesjugendblasorchester Niedersachsen, the International Euregio Festival Orchestra, the Staatsorchester Braunschweig, the Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach, and the Philharmonisches Orchester Würzburg. On the fifth anniversary of Kinderklassik e.V., she performed as a soloist with the Kammerorchester Braunschweig. Ida is a multiple national prize winner of Jugend Musiziert and the Jugend Musik Wettbewerb Braunschweig. Most recently, she won 2nd prize at the international Flautiada competition (May 2024) and 3rd prize at the international competition of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Flöte (September 2024). Her artistic influences include Jelka Weber, Stephanie Winker, Emmanuel Pahud, Jacques Zoon, Paolo Taballione, Nathanael Carré, and Renate Greiss-Armin.
Kai-Wen Chuang
Kai-Wen Chuang (born in 2002 in Taichung, Taiwan) has been studying at the University of Music Würzburg with Prof. Domenico Orlando since the October 2021. Since October 2024, she has also been studying baroque oboe with Prof. Clara Blessing. She won first place at the Taiwan National Music Competition in 2018 with another woodwind quintet and third place in the oboe category in 2021. In 2020, she won first place at the Taiwan Concerto Competition and subsequently performed as a soloist with the orchestra. During her studies, Kai-Wen regularly performs in orchestras, opera productions, at the Tage der Neuen Musik, and with the Nordbayrisches Jugendblasorchester. She has also been a member of the Asian Youth Orchestra since the summer of 2023 and won the audition for the Bayerische Orchesterakademie in February 2024.
Jonas Kalin
Jonas Kalin (born in 2004 in Sonthofen in the Allgäu, Germany) took his first clarinet lessons with Nikolai Paskal at the age of eight. He later taught himself to play the piano and organ. Jonas was a member of the Schwäbisches Jugendsinfonieorchester and the Bayerisches Landesjugendorchester and has already played under renowned conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Joseph Bastian, and Vitali Alekseenok. He gained further musical inspiration in master classes with Prof. Norbert Kaiser, Prof. Thomas Lindhorst and Prof. Harald Harrer. In October 2023, Jonas Kalin began his studies at the University of Music Würzburg, initially with Andreas Freitag and, since October 2024, with Prof. Manfred Lindner. He has already played in various orchestras, such as the Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach.
Emma Wiese
Emma Magdalena Wiese (born in 2004 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany) began her musical training at the age of five, learning to play the recorder, most recently with Isabel Lehmann in 2023. From 2014 to 2023, she received bassoon lessons from Annette Winker in Freiburg and from 2021 to 2023 on the baroque bassoon from Eckhardt Lenzing. Since October 2023, Emma has been studying bassoon with Prof. Albrecht Holder at the University of Music Würzburg. She is a member of the Landesjugendkantorei Baden, a regular participant in the chamber music course of the Jeunesses Musicales in Weikersheim, has completed various master classes, and was active at the Isny Opernfestival in 2023 and 2024. She has also participated in various orchestra projects, including with the Landesjugendorchester Baden-Württemberg, Concerto Armonico Freiburg, and Junge Sinfonie Berlin. Most recently, she made a guest appearance in the opening concert of the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele.
Marit Burkhardt
Marit Burkhardt (born in 2003 in Ulm, Germany) began learning to play the French horn at the age of eight, most recently with Adriano Orlandi in Ulm, Germany. She completed various instrumental exams and performance badges with top marks at a young age. After graduating from high school (Abitur), she attended the vocational school for music in the district of Swabia for a year, where she received French horn lessons from Katharina Hauf. She also gained experience in various chamber music ensembles there. Lessons in conducting and ensemble leadership also provided her with valuable inspiration for her current ensemble playing. She gained orchestral experience in the Schwäbisches Jugendblasorchester, the Schwäbisches Jugendsinfonieorchester, as well as in university orchestra projects and various other orchestras as a substitute. Since October 2023, she has been studying at the University of Music Würzburg in the artistic-pedagogical program with Fabian Borchers and Prof. Christoph Eß.