1962
born in Kirchberg, near Zwickau

1979 to 1983
studies at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden

1983
first position as percussionist at the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Chemnitz

from 1988
solo timpanist in same orchestra

1990
change to same position at the Staatskapelle Berlin, the orchestra of the Staatsoper unter den Linden

since 1998
Solo timpanist at the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra

Member of the Percussion Ensemble Berlin and in the C.P.E. Bach Chamber Orchestra.

Guest contracts led him to play in orchestras such as the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the symphony orchestras of the state radio and television broadcasters BR, HR, NDR and RBB, the Bavarian State Opera, the Komische and Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester, and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

Guest performances with the Staatskapelle Berlin in North and South America, Asia and all of Europe’s metropoles.

Teaching at the orchestra academy in Seville/Spain and at the orchestra academy of the Staatskapelle Berlin

Mentor for timpani/percussion in the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and at the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart (Festival Ensemble)

hmt Rostock awarded Prof. Schönfeld an honorary professorship in recognition of his services to music in October 2022.