Ernst Wendel (26 March 1876 – 21 May 1938) was a German violinist and conductor.
Wendel was born in Breslau. For one season in 1896/97 Wendel was concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Theodore Thomas. From 1909 to 1935, he was General Music Director of the Bremer Philharmoniker. As a violinist, he taught Georg Kulenkampff. In 1914, in Stuttgart and in 1925/26, he conducted the Frankfurter Museumsgesellschaft. In 1913, he conducted Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 9 for the first time in Russia.[1] He made his mark on .[2]
Wendel was married to the concert pianist Ilse Wendel née Wolde. His younger son was the set and costume designer Heinrich Wendel (1915-1980).[3]
Wendel died in Jena aged 62.
He also composed a cappella men's choirs and Lieder.