Education   Eckhard Kahle was born in Karlsruhe, Germany. After obtaining a Vordiplom at the University in Bonn, he continued his studies of physics at Clare College, Cambridge (England), receiving a Master of Philosophy in physics for his work in modeling the microstructure of wood used by violinmakers when creating the front plates of stringed instruments. Dr. Kahle then returned to Germany, where he completed his physics degree, with a major in acoustics, at the University in Aachen. He then joined the room acoustics group at IRCAM — Pierre Boulez’ Institute for Research in Music and Acoustics — in Paris, working on an objective model of the perception of acoustical quality in concert halls, opera houses, and recital halls. This model was validated in his doctoral thesis, based on a series of extensive objective acoustical measurements and subjective listening tests in several European facilities for music performance. His thesis jury included some of the world’s most accomplished researchers in the field of room acoustics.

Musical Experience   In addition to his extensive research in physics and acoustics, Eckhard Kahle has pursued a parallel career as a professional viola player. He was a long-standing member of the European Community Youth Orchestra, holding the position of principal viola at the time of his departure. In this capacity, he has performed with such outstanding musicians as Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, Radu Lupu, and Leonard Bernstein. He also performed with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under the direction of Roger Norrington and Vladimir Jurowski, and held the position of viola soloist for the Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, led by the cellist Christophe Coin, while pursuing his studies in France.

Acoustical Consulting Experience   In 1995, Dr. Kahle joined the acoustic consulting firm Artec Consultants Inc, based in New York, one of the world leaders in the acoustic design of performance spaces. He made important contributions to a number of Artec projects, including the Culture and Congress Center (KKL), Lucerne, and the Salle du Métropole, Lausanne, Switzerland; the Auditorium de Dijon, France; the Regional Performing Arts Center, Philadelphia; the Orange County Performing Arts Center, California; the SangNam Hall, LG Arts Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; the Flemish Theatre (KVS), the Maison de la Radio, and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels, Belgium.

Kahle Acoustics Reference Projects   In 2001, Eckhard Kahle founded his own company, Kahle Acoustics s.p.r.l., in Brussels. Clients of the firm include, amongst others, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis (Jean Nouvel, architect); The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York (Renzo Piano, architect), The Curve (Leicester Theatre and Performing Arts Centre, Rafael Viñoly, architect), the Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland; the Singapore Conservatory of Music; the City of Bordeaux for a new 1400-seat concert hall; the City of Perpignan, France, for a new theatre (Jean Nouvel, architect); the City of Stavanger, Norway, for a new concert hall, and the City of Jinan, China, for a new Performing Arts Center with a 1600-seat opera and a 1500-seat concert hall (Paul Andreu, architect). He is also client acoustician for the future Philharmonie de Paris concert hall.

Publications and Teaching   Since 1988, Eckhard Kahle has published a large number of scientific articles in journals and congress proceedings. He is regularly invited to give lectures and Masterclasses, and is Professor at the National Music Conservatory in Karlsruhe, Germany.