"I am delighted with the Council's support for the extension of Steven Walter's contract. Steven Walter has taken the Beethovenfest a big step towards the future. He has opened up the festival to new target groups and brought experimental performances to many different venues in the city. The festival programs feature a variety of concerts that push the boundaries of the conventional and the familiar," praises Bonn's Mayor Katja Dörner, who is Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the International Beethovenfest gGmbH. "This applies to world premieres, concert formats and the profile of invited artists. As a result, he has succeeded in attracting additional target groups, especially younger ones."

Under Steven Walter, the Beethovenfest has networked more closely with local partners, such as the University of Bonn (to build a circle of interested students for the festival) and UN organizations, and has expanded its cooperation with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Theater Bonn and Beethoven-Haus. By involving amateurs (e.g. with the "Symphonic Mob"), participating in district festivals and involving independent Bonn ensembles (e.g. Theater Marabu, Cocoon Dance), Steven Walter has noticeably anchored the Beethovenfest more firmly in Bonn's population. And with the Fellowship Program, the Beethovenfest has further developed Beethoven's cultivation and developed and launched a predominantly third-party funded funding program that also fits perfectly with the profile of the Beethovenfest.

The Beethovenfest 2023 sold 21,500 tickets, recorded 26,600 visitors and, with an occupancy rate of more than 82%, reached its highest level since 2015.

Steven Walter has been Beethovenfest Artistic Director since November 1, 2021. He studied cello and cultural management and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe and at international festivals. He was a founding member of various ensembles and initiator of innovative concert projects. Steven Walter was artistic director and managing director of the festival and production platform PODIUM in Esslingen, was "Cultural Manager of the Year" in 2011 and has received numerous awards for his work as an innovative curator, producer and cultural manager.