Photo © GABO

“As musicians, we also find education about tinnitus and hearing conservation so important because we think music greatly enriches lives. Every night at our concerts, we experience what music means not only to us, but also to our many listeners all over the world – and what a great joy it is to be able to share these moments without interruption.”

Salute Salon
Chamber music quartet
www.salut-salon.com

Photo © Daniel Maria Deuter

“I gladly and emphatically support the commitment of the German Foundation Tinnitus and Hearing Charité, as education and prevention on this topic is so immensely important to protect young people in particular from the psychological burden of tinnitus. For me as a musician, it is unimaginable to forfeit or even lose the joy of listening. That’s why it’s impossible to overestimate the Foundation’s work in making its important contribution to keeping all our senses together.”

Xenia Löffler
Baroque oboist and lecturer at the Berlin University of the Arts
www.xenialoeffler.com

Photo © Hermann Wakolbinger

“It’s important to provide information about tinnitus and hearing protection because damage to hearing is often irreparable. I’ve been using fitted hearing protection for years during rehearsals because I want to continue to enjoy my job without limitations as I get older.”

Wilfried Brandstötter
Musician & band member with Mnozil Brass
www.mnozilbrass.at

Photo © Leonid Lazarenko

“Tinnitus is hearing a sound or tone even though there is no external noise. I was surprised to hear that one in five adults suffers from it, and I am very pleased that an organization like the German Foundation Tinnitus and Hearing Charité is drawing attention to what is surely a terrible burden. I know that many musicians suffer from tinnitus and I am very concerned that young people are increasingly risking contracting it by exposing themselves to extreme volumes for long periods at pop concerts and in discos. I hope that tinnitus research will bring solutions to this problem, which affects many millions of people worldwide!”

Vadim Repin
Violinist
www.vadimrepin.com

Photo © Sandrine Expilly

“As a musician, the lot of those suffering from tinnitus is particularly close to my heart. It’s hard to imagine what living with a constant, unwanted and tiring noise means. The disease permanently changes the lives of those affected and its consequences are often underestimated.

It leads to isolation and despair. Educating people about tinnitus and educating young people about “safe hearing” are indispensable tasks, especially today when we listen to music through headphones – without a thought to the stress we’re putting our sensitive ears through.”

Sandrine Piau
Opera and concert singer
imgartists.com/artist/sandrine_piau

Photo © Rebecca Hahn

“I think tinnitus research is important because tinnitus is quite a serious condition. I myself once suffered from one for a week, it was the high E, and it made it impossible for me as a musician to play music normally, because I always heard all the notes in relation to that annoying E. I believe there is a connection of psyche and tinnitus, and a connection of strong noise exposure (this includes loud music!!) and the tinnitus. Hearing loss and tinnitus are in principle not curable, until now. Please keep researching!

I think education about tinnitus and hearing protection is important because it is very easy to underestimate the sensitivity of the ears, especially as a young person. I find it depressing how many people ruin their hearing these days by consuming brutally loud music, whether live or through headphones.”

Tim Vogler
Violinist and ensemble member of the Vogler Quartet
www.vogler-quartett.de

Photo © Juliane Njankouo

“I think tinnitus research is important because it deals with a previously incurable impairment of an important sensory organ and related problems.

I think education about tinnitus and hearing protection is important because we live in a world of increasing noise pollution and more and more people, especially young people, are suffering permanent damage for life from acoustic overexposure, the scope of which they can’t comprehend at their age.”

Ludwig Güttler
Trumpeter and conductor
www.guettler.com

Photo © Li Yundi

The successful Chinese star pianist Li Yundi has relied on his excellent ear since early childhood. In Yundi’s home country of China, tinnitus is also widespread: This is not the only reason why the musician, born in 1982 and the youngest pianist to win the International Chopin Prize in October 2000, wants to support the German Tinnitus Foundation Charité. For him, it is an honor to be involved as a prominent ambassador for this cause. Li Yundi: “Music is international. The education and information campaign is particularly close to my heart as a musician. I like to play Beethoven – this famous German composer also suffered from tinnitus.”

Li Yundi
Pianist
www.universal-music.de/yundi-li/home

Photo © Giorgia Bertazzi

“I think education about tinnitus and hearing conservation is important because my hearing is the most important sensory organ for me as a musician. For me, my hearing is access to the world of music – without it, this world would remain closed to me.”

Julian Steckel
Cellist
www.juliansteckel.com

Photo © Thommy Mardo

“Tinnitus education and the work of tinnitus research are very important, in my opinion, because this phenomenon is an irreversible problem that can have a huge impact on the quality of life.

In this day and age, it is almost impossible to escape the noise pollution in public areas and in our noisy world, silence has become a luxury that many ears cannot even enjoy on a regular basis. Our senses in general have been deteriorating since the age of industrialization. For me as a musician, however, hearing protection is particularly obvious – also because the stress that is part of the development, but also the accompanying symptoms of a tinnitus disease, can cause serious damage to health that only appears later. Apart from that, the ear is also the seat of our sense of balance and can lead to far-reaching and unexpected consequences if disturbed.

I therefore consider the work of the German Tinnitus and Hearing Foundation Charité to be a project that is extremely worthy of support, as it generates awareness in society of the phenomenon of tinnitus and its consequences and thus makes a major contribution to health.”

Joseph Moog
Pianist and composer
www.josephmoog.com