Profile

Holger Urbach works as a freelance producer and recording engineer. He has completed more than 300 CDs with internationally recognized artists and orchestras in Germany and abroad. His recordings have been won awards such as the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, ECHO Preis Klassik, Diapason d’Or, BBC Music Award, Gramophone Award (UK), and Japanese Record Award.

Holger Urbach studied musicology at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität in Heidelberg, trumpet at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule Düsseldorf, and audio and TV production at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf.

After completing his studies in 1988 he worked as a recording engineer and producer twelve years for the Japanese recording label DENON. From 1999 – 2010 he worked as a recording director for West German Radio (WDR) in Cologne. During these years he produced live concert performances, television, CDs and DVDs of the WDR Symphony Orchestra directed by principal conductor Semyon Bychkov.

In 2000 Holger Urbach founded his own production company with which he has produced numerous CDs and DVDs in various musical genres ranging from chamber music to opera for diverse record labels and radio stations. Aside from artistic direction he also provides the complete technical realization of the CD and accompanies all phases of post production.

In 2015 Urbach started a regular cooperation with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Czech Philharmonic Praha, and the Dusseldorf Symphony under the terms of long-term recording projects.

Since 2005 he has added sound direction and design to his accomplishments for classical open air events. Among others he developed the public address system in 2013 for the Schenkenberg Opera Festival, Switzerland for a production of G. Verdi’s „Il Trovatore“. In 2014/15 he created the concept for the sound design of the Messini Festival in Kalamata, Greece. 2016, again sound director for Swiss Opera Schenkenberg in Verdi's "Rigoletto".

In 1996 he was named Producer of the Year by the Japanese recording magazine „The Record Geijutsu“.

Urbach has taught at the University of Applied Siences, Düsseldorf and delivered papers at recording conferences such as the AES Convention, VDT Tonmeister-Convention, Professional Media Convention und IFA Berlin.

Since 2013 he serves on the executive committee for the USB-Foundation in Ratingen, Germany supporting projects in cultural, social, and environmental fields.