Benjamin Scheuer

Benjamin Scheuer (*1987) is enrolled in soloist exam studies of composition at the HfM Karlsruhe with Wolfgang Rihm. Before he had lessons as a preparatory student at the HfM Lübeck with Dieter Mack and undergraduate and graduate studies at the HfMT Hamburg with Frederik Schwenk and at the CNSMD de Lyon with Robert Pascal. His extensive work covers all different kinds of formations including vocal music, chamber music and orchestra pieces. He had his first portrait concert at the age of 16 at the Youth Music School of Hamburg. His creative activity is focused on innovative but clearly recognisable form concepts and on theatrical elements of musicianship. He wrote several music theatre pieces, for instance “Figlioli Corsi” which was premiered in 2005 and the scenic cantata “Autobus S” which had its first performance on stage in April 2011 in Hamburg. His instrumental works often implement scenic elements or are closely related to literature, aspects which are clearly recognisable in his all-night scenic concert “Theater der Affekte”. In 2010/2011 he was awarded a scholarship of the Jerwood Opera Writing Programme Foundation Course (Aldeburgh, England).
His compositions were performed at various national and international festivals, like “Sommerliche Musiktage Hitzacker” where he was composer in residence in 2009, the “Gaudeamus Music Week” (Utrecht, 2011), “Heidelberger Frühling” (2010), the “Young Composers Meetings Apeldoorn” (2007, 2011), on a china tour of the “Ensemble 21 der HfMT Hamburg” (2009), at the ISCM World New Music Days (Sydney, 2010) and at “It’s oh so choir” of the AGEC (Brussels, 2010). At a workshop of the “June in Buffalo” festival (USA, Arditti quartet) and at the International Composers Meeting of Mazsalaca (Latvia, ReDo-quartet) he worked at pieces for string quartet. His piece “Montagen” was premiered by the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra of Saarland conducted by Johannes Kalitzke. Placed in the soccer stadium of Hanover 600 musicians presented “Zeit-Raum”, a commission by the festival Niedersächsische Musiktage.
Benjamin Scheuer won the Composition Competition of the German Music Council with his wind quintet “Nachklänge” in 2011. Additionally he was awarded several other prices, f.i. the 1st price at the international composition competition “Alphorn in Concert” (Switzerland, 2006). In November 2011 he will receive the Krista und Rüdiger Warnke promotion prize worth 10.000 Euro. Since 2009 he holds a scholarship of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes. He is founding member of “Musicians without borders”: In august 2008, 2009 and 2011 he travelled to Guayaquil, Ecuador, where he lived in a social flashpoint and volunteered as music teacher and composer.