Justus-Hermann-Wetzel (Stiftung der UdK Berlin)
The composer, writer and music educator Justus Hermann Wetzel was born in Kyritz/Brandenburg on March 11, 1879. After graduating from high school, Wetzel first studied philosophy and biology, earning his doctorate in 1901 with a zoological thesis. He then turned to music, deepening his knowledge as a pianist and working as a music consultant for various daily newspapers before taking up a teaching position at the State Academy of Church Music in Charlottenburg in 1926. After Hitler seized power, he was dismissed for refusing to divorce his Jewish wife. In 1943 his wife was imprisoned in Rosenstrasse, but was released. After the end of World War II, Wetzel was appointed professor at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, where he taught composition until 1948. He died in Überlingen on December 6, 1973.
The compositional œuvre of the late Romantic composer comprises above all more than 600 art songs, including settings of poems by Goethe, Eichendorff, Hesse and Spitteler. Wetzel's estate was donated to the Berlin University of the Arts by his daughter Ruth Ruiz-Pipo in 1999. In the following year, the Justus Hermann Wetzel Foundation was established. It promotes activities that serve to cultivate the work of Justus Hermann Wetzel. In particular, it supports students of the Berlin University of the Arts and other music colleges as well as young graduates, among other things through competitions.
In 2003, a song recital exclusively with his compositions was held again for the first time. From 2008 to 2014, the Justus Hermann Wetzel Foundation awarded a scholarship for duo singing/piano, which served to prepare a concert at the UdK Berlin.
Likewise, the Foundation awards scholarships and grants for proposals from the Faculty of Music.