Musical prodigy: 16-year-old Jakob becomes a conductor!

Musical prodigy: 16-year-old Jakob becomes a conductor!

What does a talented young conductor do in Soest? Jakob Pagels, only 16 years old, is in the middle of his training as a conductor and is already considered a great musical talent. The student from the Conrad-von-Soest-Gymnasium will conduct his first movement from Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 82 in C major “The Bear” at the Summer Serenade Concert in the Blue Hall of the town hall on July 5, 2025. Loud calf Bernd-Udo Winker, artistic director of the Soest Symphony Orchestra, praises Jakob's extraordinary talent and support on his way into the music world.

Jakob discovered his love of music at an early age: at the age of four he began violin lessons with Jin Kim and at the age of ten he also demonstrated his piano skills with Christoph Hengst. His talents did not go undiscovered. Since last year he has been attending the youth academy of the Westphalian School of Music and the Münster University of Music, which offers talented young people comprehensive musical training, as the municipal music school in Münster explains here.

The youth academy as a springboard

The youth academy offers up to 30 training places, making it a valuable contact point for musically talented children. A wide spectrum is covered: from individual lessons to ensemble and chamber music training to theory and singing. What is particularly exciting for Jakob is the opportunity to get in touch with prominent artists and take part in master classes. This excitement is reflected in his desire to get the best out of his ensemble and understand the depth of the music.

The wide-ranging lesson plan not only advances musical skills, but also takes into account students' academic obligations. A healthy, family and school environment is one of the core goals of the academy. Jakob also played as a violinist in the North Rhine-Westphalia State Youth Orchestra, which gave him further valuable experience on stage.

An exciting concert program

The Summer Serenade Concert, in which Jakob will conduct, will not only provide his debut as a conductor, but also a stage for the talented young pianist Magdalena Pflüger from the Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Music High School in Berlin. In addition to Haydn's symphony, Beethoven's Romance for violin and orchestra in F major op. 50 and the Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major op. 15 will also be part of the program. Tickets for this musical highlight cost 12 euros, and the anticipation for the event is already great.

The music education that Jakob and many other young talents strive for is of great importance. It forms the basis for a career in the music industry and includes a variety of options. From music educators to concert musicians to sound engineers and instrument makers – the possibilities are enormous bildungskompass.de emphasized. The solid basic musical education that Jakob acquires through his training is a valuable foundation for his future.