Dirk Wucherpfennig, (b. 1969) studied percussion and piano at the University of Music and Theater in his hometown of Hamburg. At the age of 23, he began his professional career as percussionist in the prestigious Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin. Dirk was a founding member of the world renown Lucerne Festival Orchestra when it was re-launched by Claudio Abbado in 2003.

Dirk has gained an extensive 30-year professional experience, successfully performing with: Berliner Philharmoniker, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin, Deutsches Sinfonieorchester, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. He has worked with famous conductors: Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle, Riccardo Chailly, Sir Georg Solti, Riccardo Muti, Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez and many others.

Dirk launched his conducting career with private studies with Prof. Gunter Kahlert (Franz Liszt University of Music Weimar) and Prof. Manfred Fabricius (Hanns Eisler University of Music Berlin), before studying conducting at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden under Prof. Steffen Leißner, which he completed with a Masters Degree. Master classes with Jorma Panula, David Robertson and Bernard Haitink enhanced and elevated his fine conducting skills.

Dirk is regularly invited as guest conductor with German orchestras, among them the Brandenburger Symphoniker and Elblandphilharmonie to name a few.