Born in 1981 in Germany, Ferdinand Schaefer studied percussion in Darmstadt and has since built a diverse and international career as a percussionist. He has performed with numerous orchestras across Germany, including in Trier, Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hannover, Dresden, and Mannheim. As one of the founding members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, he was part of the ensemble from its launch in 2008 until the end of 2022, rejoining in May 2025. Beyond his orchestral work, Ferdinand was also deeply involved in his own tango and world music ensemble Emocion. His international concert tours—with both orchestras and ensembles—have taken him to Italy, Korea, and China, with standout performances at prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York and The Proms in London.
