Academy

"... you hear a lot before your ears fall off." (P. Langstrumpf)

Christian Dierstein, one of the most important representatives of contemporary music – be it as long-standing percussionist of Ensemble Recherche and Trio Accanto, or as most experienced educator – is teaching the percussion class at the impuls Academy once again.
In addition to individual lessons, the preparation of solo works of the participants' choice and literature for percussion ensemble, Christian Dierstein's class also focuses specifically on new playing techniques and music-theatrical forms and also offers important practical information (from set-up help to organization).
For 2027, a special focus will be put on the interaction with composers present: In an explorative collaborative Special Program, coached by Carola Bauckholt and Christian Dierstein, the percussionists will examine their instruments and raw material/objects, and finally develope miniature compositions together with preselected young Academy composers. On top, Carola Bauckholt will join Christian Dierstein to join the rehearsals and development of several of her pieces for percussionists, leading to a final presentation at the impuls Festival. Though limited by space, there will of course be also further performance opportunities for percussionists for their individual work.
In "On Percussion", a workshop for composers, Christian Dierstein will furthermore focus on new playing techniques and touch f.e. mallets, tools and applications for percussionists.

Christian Dierstein has established himself among the most interesting performers in the contempory music of our times. He studied in Freiburg, Mannheim and Paris. He is the winner of numerous competitions and received scholarships from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and the Akademie Schloß Solitude, Stuttgart.
He has been the percussionist of the Ensemble Recherche since 1988. Together with Marcus Weiss and Stefan Wirth he forms the Trio Accanto. In addition to his performances of new music, he has focused on non-European music and free improvisation.
He has given solo concerts throughout Europe. In the season 2010/11 he was one of the "Rising Stars" of the European Concert Hall Organisation. Important appearances include: Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Athens, Berliner Festspiele, Brussel Festival, Donaueschinger Musiktage, Huddersfield Festival, Lucerne Festival, Monday evening concerts Los Angeles, Rachmaninov Hall Moskau, Festival d'Autome Paris, Ircam Paris, Rome, Salzburg Festival, Schleswig Holstein Festival, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Wien Modern, Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, Zürich Festival für neue Musik and others.
He has recorded for several labels including Kairos, col legno, Stradivarius, Winter & Winter, neon and his recordings have been the recipients of numerous awards.
Christian Dierstein regulary works together with several of the greatest living composers, with personalities such as Hans Abrahamsen, Carola Bauckholt, Pierluigi Billone, Beat Furrer, Hugues Dufourt, Helmut Lachenmann, Rebecca Saunders, Salvatore Sciarrino and many others.
Since 2001 he has been Professor for percussion and new chamber music at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel, Switzerland. He gave masterclasses in Buenos Aires, Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Genf, Hensinki, Kyoto, Madrid, Moskau, New York, Oslo, Peking, Valencia, Tiflis and others. From 2008 -2022 he was the percussion tutor of the Darmstädter summer courses and since 2011 he has been the percussion tutor of the impuls Academy in Graz.

christiandierstein.de