Ever since its formation Ensemble Musikfabrik has had the reputation of being one of the leading ensembles for contemporary music. Ensemble Musikfabrik is particularly dedicated to artistic innovation. New, unknown, and often personally commissioned works in an unusual media are typical of their productions. The results of their extensive work, usually taking place in close collaboration with the composers, are presented by the Cologne-based international soloist ensemble in about 80 concerts a year in both Germany and abroad, at festivals, in their own series “Musikfabrik in WDR” and in regular radio recordings and CD productions. Interdisciplinary projects and the confrontation with works using open form and improvisation, extend the traditional conducted ensemble concerts. Lecture concerts and the experimentation with alternative concert forms involving audience participation would also be part of this.
LUKAS HELLERMANN (PROJECT LEADER)
Lukas Hellermann studied musicology at University of Cologne, curated and organized festivals for Forum Kreuzeskirche Essen (e.g. KlangRaum festivals 1998-2001, Messiaen 2002) and is since 2001 project manager of Ensemble Musikfabrik, one of the leading ensembles for contemporary music.
He organized more than 500 concerts worldwide, for festivals like Biennale di Venezia, Festival d`Automne à Paris, musikfest berlin, Festival d‘Avignon, Ruhrtriennale and Musica Strasbourg, in venues like Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie Berlin and Brooklyn Academy of Music. He took care of world premieres by Louis Andriessen, Harrison Birtwistle, Mauricio Kagel, Wolfgang Rihm and Karlheinz Stockhausen, but also by Michel van der Aa, Mark Andre, Enno Poppe and Rebecca Saunders – to name just a few. He collaborated with conductors like Peter Eötvös, Emilio Pomarico, Peter Rundel and Hans Zender, with artists like Martha Argerich, Calixto Bieito, Klaus-Maria Brandauer, Trilok Gurtu, Barbara Hannigan, Bill Morrison and Sasha Waltz & Guests, and vocal ensembles like Cappella Amsterdam, EXAUDI, RIAS Kammerchor and SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart.
For Ensemble Musikfabrik he also coordinated pedagogical activities during several years like the youth ensemble ‘Studio musikFabrik’, where 14-20 year old award winning musicians gain first experiences with contemporary music, and other projects with children and young adults.