Róbert Grondžel

Biography

Róbert Grondžel was born in Slovakia in 1977. Music has always been a part of his life since he fell in love with his father’s records at a young age. 

Róbert began his musical journey playing in high school bands, traditional folk music ensembles and metal bands, eventually ending up studying classical double bass. He learnt first with Jozef Bikár (principal double bass at the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Košice) before enrolling at the Hochschule für Künste in Bremen, Germany, where he studied with Stefan Adelmann (principal double bass at the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra). Róbert is deeply grateful for Adelmann’s support during his studies. Adelmann encouraged all of his students to prepare for orchestral auditions from the start and continually work on audition programmes alongside learning solo repertoire.

Róbert had his first orchestral experience in 2001 as part of the Orchesterakademie at the Theater Münster, and in 2002 he first performed with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. In 2003 he was appointed second assistant principal double bass at the Museum Orchester Frankfurt, and in 2005 was awarded a permanent position as assistant principal double bass with the orchestra of the Danish National Opera.

Since 2008, Róbert has worked as principal double bass with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, whose regular activities include opera, chamber music, educational concerts and even musicals and cross-genre concerts in addition to the standard repertoire. Róbert also enjoys teaching privately, mostly focusing on audition repertoire and orchestral excerpts.

In his spare time, Róbert enjoys playing electric guitar and bass guitar and recording his own music. He is also interested in skiing, mountain biking, and photography.