ANKE HELFRICH

Dear friends,

I hope this message finds you well. Despite the troubling news around the world, I am reminded again how music and shared concerts can lift our spirits and bring us together. I feel especially grateful for the precious encounters and experiences we shared on tour with my trio last year in Canada, around the Baltic Sea, in Japan, and throughout Germany - each one a very special and lasting memory.

This spring, I reunited with my longtime colleagues at the workshop in Freinsheim, and I have just returned from the European Jazz School Workshop in Marburg. After a great week with students from Italy, Poland, Turkey, Germany, and France, we enjoyed an inspiring concert day at the Hessentag. It was wonderful to witness once again the power of music as universal language to connect people across countries and cultures. A particularly moving project has been a series of literature concerts with actress Johanna Krumstroh, based on the German translation of the autobiographical life story of the sculptor and Bergen-Belsen survivor Maurice Blik called „Zweiter Atem". Further performances are already in preparation, and I look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration.

In March, I had the great honor of receiving the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg.

"Dear Ms. Helfrich, your art moves and inspires people around the world, encourages reflection, and captivates audiences - for this, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks."

These generous words are an excerpt from the speech delivered by Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, together with the presentation of the Order of Merit of the State of Baden-Württemberg. It is such a very special honor and it has filled me with deep gratitude and joy.

As the state's highest distinction, the Order of Merit is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in the social, cultural, economic, or political fields. The ceremony on March 27, 2026, at the New Palace in Stuttgart was also the last to be conducted by Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann during his term of office. It was truly inspiring to learn about the diverse and remarkable achievements of the other honorees, to engage in conversation and to spend such a memorable evening together.

My heartfelt thanks go out to my family, friends, and fellow musicians for their continued support, inspiration, and friendship. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my parents and to my sister Wibke, to Gianluigi Conte and to Angela Ballhorn, who came to Stuttgart for the occasion, and to our former Lord Mayor, Manuel Just, who traveled from my hometown Weinheim to attend the ceremony. Their presence made this special day even more meaningful. This autumn promises many exciting events as well. The European Jazz School will be returning to the wonderful city of Bursa, Turkey. I am looking forward to traveling there with our students from Dr. Hoch's Conservatory in Frankfurt, where I will be teaching and performing once again alongside my wonderful colleagues.

With my beloved Anke Helfrich Trio, we will embark on a double-bill tour throughout Germany together with the band of the New York-based flutist Jamie Baum. Organized by the renowned Karsten Jahnke Agency, we will be performing in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Oberhausen, and Mainz, as well as at outstanding festivals including Enjoy Jazz Festival, Aalener Jazzfest, and Leverkusener Jazztage.

Best wishes, and I can't wait to see you at one of our concerts!

Anke

Anke Helfrich Trio,Jamie Baum Receiving the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg Ottawa Jazz Festival Initiative Musik Jazz Baden-Württemberg

Links:

- BR2: Weltfrauentag-jazz
- BR2 10.12.2021 with Franco Ambrosetti and Johannes Enders: www.br-klassik.de
- SRF/Switzerland: I was invited to by Jodok Hess to do a radio broadcast, celebrating the life and music of Herbie Hancock on his 80. birthday.
- Echo Jazz 2016 / Anke Helfrich Trio playing "Sagrada Familia“ youtube
- Making-of-CD-Dedication: youtube

My new album WE’LL RISE will be released on November 24th, 2023
If you want to order a CD write to: anke.helfrich[at]t-online.de

More links:
- facebook.com/pages/Anke-Helfrich/
- facebook.com/people/Anke-Helfrich/
- Köpfe der Bergstraße

09. - 12. September 2026 | Ettlingen, Jazz Workshop (Eckert, De Varias, Lehel, Weber, Bergmann, Helfrich, Katz, Faller)
18. September 2026 | Mannheim, Ella & Louis "Miles 100“ (Siffling, Haberecht, Helfrich, Fuhr, Strauch)
23. October 2026 | München, Linie 1 (Anke Helfrich Trio)
26. October 2026 | Ludwigshafen, Das Haus Festival (Double Bill: Jamie Baum Quartet & Anke Helfrich Trio)
28. October 2026 | Oberhausen, Ebertbad (Double Bill: Jamie Baum Quartet & Anke Helfrich Trio)
29. October 2026 | München, Werk 7 (Double Bill: Jamie Baum Quartet & Anke Helfrich Trio)

More dates you can find at the
live section.