Stefan Koim

Guitarist/Lutenist

“Stefan Koim is an extremely refined, interesting and versatile guitarist. His beautiful “sound” on the guitar always serves noble musical ideas. Stefan Koim is always evolving (the best thing that could ever be said about a musician!). He is always looking for bold, unusual, new projects from all eras, covering Early music to the most bizarre works of the present. I wish this excellent young guitarist the greatest success he so richly deserves.”

–  Eliot Fisk –

Stefan Koim studied classical guitar and historical instruments in Cologne, Salzburg, Boston and Würzburg with Hubert Käppel, Eliot Fisk, Jürgen Ruck and Thomas Boysen. In 2017 he completed his Master Class Dimploma (Meisterklassendiplom) with distinction. His musical education is rounded off by academies, such as the Accademia Musicale Chigiana Siena and Fondazione Giorgio Cini, in addition to regular master classes with renowned musicians such as Konrad Junghänel, Jakob Lindberg, Han-An Liu, Carlo Marchione, Roberto Aussel, Pavel Steidl, Manuel Barrueco and Oscar Ghiglia. He has been supported by the Rotary Foundation, the Fulbright Commission, the Werner Richard – Dr. Carl Dörken Stiftung, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, among others.

Stefan Koim has won several national and international prizes as a soloist. With his Early music Ensemble Cembaless, he won both the 3rd Prize and the Audience Prize of the Biagio Marini Competition in Neuburg an der Donau in 2015, followed in 2016 by the Audience Prize of the „ZAMUS Spielwiese“ and in 2017 by the Audienc Prize and Grant at the Saarland Radio and the Academy of Early Music in Saarland. In 2020, Cembaless was accepted into the advanced education program Eeemerging+, supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, and into the Kultursekretariat NRW.

Stefan Koim is constantly searching for new repertoire and experimenting with innovative concert formats. World premieres and collaborations with young and established composers such as Helmut Lachenmann, George Benjamin, Maurizio Pisati, Dieter Mack, Manuel Hidalgo and Bernd Asmus are at the heart of his artistic work. Due to his versatility, he is also in demand for film music, opera performances and various chamber music projects (e.g. Philharmonie Luxembourg, Concerto Köln, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Gürzenichorchester). Highlights have included concerts at the Paulskirche Frankfurt, the Philharmonie Essen, the Kölner Philharmonie, the TivoliVredenburg Utrecht, Jordan Hall Boston, the CSO Ada Ankara, the Händelhaus Halle, the Göttingen International Handel Festival, the Wiener Saal Salzburg, the Glasunov Hall of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, the Gnesin Music Academy in Moscow and Harvard University in Cambridge. Koim will make his solo debut in the Shanghai Concert Hall at the end of 2024.

CD releases (solo and chamber music) at musicaphon and Naxos were highly praised by the press (including nominations for “Opus Klassik” and “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik”). He is currently head of the guitar department at the Institute for Musicology and Music Education at the University of Osnabrück.

2020/2021 Förderung durch das Kultursekretariat NRW Gütersloh
seit 10/2019 Aufnachme in das EEEMERGING Programm
2017 Stipendium der Werner Richard – Dr. Carl Dörken Stiftung
2015 – 2017 Promotionsförderung der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
2014 Promos Stipendium des DAAD
2013 – 2014 Stipendium der Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
2011 New England Conservatory Merit Award, NEC Scholarship
2010 Stipendium der Richard-Wagner Stipendienstiftung
2010 Stipendium der Rotary Foundation (Ambassador of Goodwill)
2010 Stipendium der Fulbright Kommission
2010 Stipendium der Kulturstiftung der Sparkasse Hamm
2009 – 2010 Erasmus-Stipendium des DAAD
2007 – 2013
Stipendium der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.

Projects

Cembaless

Cembaless lives up to its name by excelling in its rare choice of instrumentation for early music by omitting the cembalo. The ensemble is innovative, passionate and sensitive in its arrangements, always finding new ways to design their concerts, both aurally and spatially. Cembaless invites their audience into its own soundscape, bringing together fiery, thrilling and lively rhythms with intimate feelings.

Their success is proof of the magical moments they create on stage; for example, they have been awarded the Audience Prize at the Biagio-Marini-Competition 2015, the Audience Prize at ZAMUS-Spielweise 2016 and the Audience Prize and Grant at the Saarland Radio and the Academy of Early Music in Saarland 2017. In 2020, the ensemble will be accepted to the advanced training program Eeemerging+ (Emerging European Ensembles), which is supported by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union.

www.cembaless.com

Daidalos Guitar Duo

The Daidalos Guitar Duo has taken on both the challenge of creating something new and illuminating the traditional in new contexts. The musicians combine their critically acclaimed virtuosity and musicality with expertise in historical performance practice and contemporary music, and translate this into innovative concert programs at the crossroads between early and contemporary music. This unique combination inspires numerous composers and musicians to collaborate with the duo.

Raphael Ophaus and Stefan Koim have been making music together since they were young. They have been awarded some of the most prestigious scholarships and international prizes, and have supplemented their guitar skills with studies in early music and musicology. This is a unique duo whose extraordinary success is reflected in their collaborations with eminent composers such as Helmut Lachenmann and guest appearances at international festivals such as the Darmstadt Summer Courses.

Performances

12/15/2024

Bach Orchestersuiten
Bielefelder Philharmoniker
Michael Martin Kofler
11:00 AM, Rudolf-Oetker-Halle

12/14/2024

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart „Don Giovanni“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

12/13/2024

Bach Orchestersuiten
Bielefelder Philharmoniker
Michael Martin Kofler
8:00 PM, Rudolf-Oetker-Halle

12/09/2024

Masterclass
Shanghai Conservatory of Music

12/08/2024

“Special Priced Master Concert”
Solorecital
7:30 PM, Shanghai Concert Hall

12/07/2024

Masterclass
2:00 PM, Shanghai Concert Hall

12/03/2024

„Meisterkonzerte Würzburg“
Concert with Cembaless
7:30 PM, Großer Saal der HfM Würzburg

11/30/2024

Solorecital
7:30 Uhr, Schafstall Bad Essen

11/24/2024

Concert with orchestra „La Réjouissance“
J.S. Bach, Messe h-Moll, BWV 232
6 PM, Christuskirche Detmold

11/14/2024

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart „Don Giovanni“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

11/09/2024

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart „Don Giovanni“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

10/30/2024

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart „Don Giovanni“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

10/27/2024

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart „Don Giovanni“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

10/13/2024

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart „Don Giovanni“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
3:00 PM, Theater Bielefeld

10/06/2024

Concert with orchestra „La Réjouissance“
J.S. Bach, Messe h-Moll, BWV 232
6:00 PM, Oberste Stadtkirche Iserlohn

10/04/2024

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart „Don Giovanni“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

09/22/2024

„Loopino und die fliegende Flöte“
Children concerts with Ensemble Cembaless
10:30 AM/ 2:30 PM/ 4:30 Uhr
Philharmonie Luxembourg

09/21/2024

„Loopino und die fliegende Flöte“
Children concerts with Ensemble Cembaless
10:30 AM/ 2:30 PM/ 4:30 Uhr
Philharmonie Luxembourg

09/07/2024

„Kulturfest H4“
Solorecital
11:15 AM, Pauluskirche Hamm

08/25/2024

„Schlosskonzerte Bad Arolsen“
Solorecital
7:30 PM, Residenzschloss Bad Arolsen

07/28/2024

„Drüggelter Konzerte 2024“
Solorecital
5:00 PM, Drüggelter Kapelle

05/15/2024

„Verleihung des Preises für Völkerverständigung“
Concert with Concerto Köln, Shunske Sato and Max Volbers
6:00 PM, Konzerthaus Dortmund

05/08/2024

Concert with Concerto Köln and Shunske Sato
8:15 PM, Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden

05/05/2024

Concert with Concerto Köln and Shunske Sato
6:00 PM, Kunsthaus Troisdorf

04/05/2024

„ACHT Brücken 2024“
„Scherben“
Concert with Ensemble consord
11 AM, Kölner Philharmonie

04/26/2024

Opera „Dr. Bartolos Geheimnis“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

04-05/04/2024

Masterclass
Royal College of Music Aarhus

04/03/2024

Solorecital
7:00 PM, Musikhuset Aarhus

03/29/2024

J.S. Bach Matthäus-Passion
Concert with Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks and Gürzenich Orchester Köln
6:00 PM, Kölner Philharmonie

03/23/2024

Concert with Orchestra „La Réjouissance“
J.S. Bach Johannispassion, BWV 244
4:00 PM, Kreuzkirche Wiedenbrück

03/21/2024

BRUNDIBÁR | ÜBERLEBEN. MONOLOG.
Premiere with Beethoven-Orchester Bonn
7:00 PM, Oper Bonn

03/15/2024

Gioachino Rossini „Der Barbier von Sevilla“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

03/04/2024

Opera „Dr. Bartolos Geheimnis“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

03/03/2024

Gioachino Rossini „Der Barbier von Sevilla“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
3:00 PM, Theater Bielefeld

02/05/2024

„Klassik-Konzerte Tübingen“
„Virtuosen der Alten Musik“
Concert with Ensemble Cembaless
8:15 PM, Neue Aula Universität Tübingen

01/28/2024

Opera „Dr. Bartolos Geheimnis“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
11:00 AM, Theater Bielefeld

01/27/2024

Gioachino Rossini „Der Barbier von Sevilla“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:30 PM, Theater Bielefeld

01/07/2024

Concert with Orchestra „La Réjouissance“
J. S. Bach Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248, 4-6
5:00 PM, Marienkirche Lippstadt

01/06/2024

Opera „Dr. Bartolos Geheimnis“
Production with Bielefelder Philharmoniker
7:00 PM, Theater Bielefeld

Media

DISCOGRAPHY

ROYAL (musicaphon M56975)

“ROYAL…, noble sound in courtly context,” this, in a few short words, is how one could describe the music of the most famous Renaissance lutenist John Dowland, which is the main focus of this CD by Stefan Koim. On one hand, compositions by Dowland are presented which represent an impressive fusion of heart, spirit and intellect from the quill of a cosmopolitan musician of the sixteenth century. On the other hand, there are two important modern compositions by Benjamin Britten and Hans Werner Henze, who refer to Dowland and the lute music of the Elizabethan era in their works. This is explicit in Britten’s Nocturnal, a variation work on John Dowland’s Air Come Heavy Sleepe, whose original form untypically appears only at the very end of the composition. The reference is rather implicit for Hans Werner Henze’s cycle of Royal Winter Music written in London. He was inspired by the works of the English poet, playwright and Dowland-contemporary, William Shakespeare. It is therefore inconceivable that he did not have Dowland’s lute music in his ear while composing his work for solo guitar. Therefore, the compositions compiled on this CD are intended above all to call attention to two things: the still fascinating sound of an era that is frequently called the “Golden Age” of English history and the still inspiring potential, after 400 years, of this music for that of the modern age.

Bei allen Fragen rund ums Album wenden Sie sich an:

klassik21
PR für Künstler, Labels und Organisationen der klassischen Musik
Dr. Rainer Aschemeier
Tel.: +49 (0) 5531-8 14 48 99
www.klassik21.de

  1. 1. Dowland: Fantasia DP73 1:01
  2. 2. Dowland: Fantasia DP71 1:01
  3. 3. Dowland: Fantasia DP 1a 1:01
  4. 4. Britten: Nocturnal after John Dowland 1:01
  5. 5. Dowland: Sir John Langton's Pavan 1:01
  6. 6. Dowland: Sir John Smith, His Almain 1:01
  7. 7. Dowland: King of Denmark, His Galliard 1:01
  8. 8. Henze: Guitar Sonata No. 2 - I. Sir Andrew Aguecheeck 1:01
  9. 9. Henze: Guitar Sonata No. 2 - II. Bottom's Dream 1:01
  10. 10. Henze: Guitar Sonata No. 2 - III. Mad Lady Macbeth 1:01

„When music of such stature is played this masterfully, there’s no need to explain. All the miniscule details in this landmark piece are beautifully brought out, and the climactic section before the theme finally makes an appearance has more tension and drama than usual[….] Koim’s performances are dramatic, technically faultless, and gripping throughout.“

Classical Guitar Magazine USA, Summer 2017

„Auch diese CD des Musikers – ich schreibe extra nicht: Gitarristen – Stefan Koim gehört zu den besten Beispielen seit langem und zeugt von hoher Musikalität. […]Aber die sehr überlegte, durchgehörte und auch in den schwierigsten Momenten klare und beeindruckende Realisation dieser Stücke – angefangen von der vertrackten Polyphonie der Fantasien und Tänze des John Dowland bis hin zur von Shakespeare angeregten Royal Winter Music von Henze und zu Brittens Komposition Nocturnal – ist eine Sternstunde der Musik.“

The-new-listener, Juni 2021

„Stefan Koim stellt in seinem Spiel mit großer Klarheit, viel virtuoser Pracht und immer wieder auch einer bestechend souverän gemeisterten Mehrstimmigkeit heraus[…]So wirkt es, wenn sein Gitarrenspiel in einem vielgestaltigen Panorama zwischen meditativer Verinnerlichung und ungestümer Virtuosität die berühmten Bilder im Kopf entstehen lasst.“

Klassik-Treff, Juni 2021

„Die virtuosen Fantasien DP 71 und DP 73 erklingen mit behändiger Leichtigkeit, die üppig ausgeschmückten Pavanen und Galliarden bleiben immer tänzerisch und luftig. Die dereinst als unspielbar gefürchtete „Royal Winter Music“ meistert der Virtuose Koim mühelos und zeigt die besondere Schönheit des Werkes auf. So fügt sich das intelligent gewählte Programm bestens zusammen, findet zudem kongeniale tontechnische Unterstützung, weswegen das Fazit einzig „sehr gelungen“ lauten darf.“

Akustik Gitarre 02/1, Harald Wittig

À L’ESPAGNOL (musicaphon M56963)

On his debut CD “À l’Espagnol,” Stefan Koim presents works from the Baroque era to modern times. The unifying elements of this musical journey through the guitar repertoire are the origins, influences, and traditions of Spanish music. In the case of the Chaconne from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Second Partita for Violin, BWV 1004, the relationship to Spain is to be understood in terms of form: the chaconne was originally a folk dance, already verifiable in Spain around 1600. Elements of folk music are important aspects of the music written by the Spanish composers Fernando Sor, Manuel de Falla and Joaquín Rodrigo. Moreover, the French composer Tristan Murail utilized performance practices from Flamenco in his work Tellur to achieve his imagined sounds. It’s remarkable that the reception of Spanish elements took place either via France or in direct altercation with influences of French music resp. music by French composers: e.g. Bach used a French model as the basis for his composition the Ciaccona, Sor stayed in Paris, the center of French musical life during his most productive years regarding guitar music. De Falla dedicated his work to the French composer Claude Debussy, whom he very much admired and Rodrigo, as well as Murail, developed their personal styles in altercation with actual tendencies in French musical life. These composers used a mix of Spanish and French elements, creating a distinct connection among the different musical styles in Europe which overlooked national borders.

  1. 1. J.S. Bach: aus der Partita für Violine BWV 1004: Ciaccona 1:00
  2. 2. Sor: Fantasia Nr. 7, Opus 30 1:00
  3. 3. de Falla: Homenaje à Debussy 1:00
  4. 4. Rodrigo: Invocation et Danse 1:00
  5. 5. Murail: Tellur 1:00

„Stefan Koim – notabene! – gehört nicht zu Segovias Epigonen. Seine Chaconne steht weder dem Jahrhundertgitarristen noch Sigiswald Kuijken oder einem anderen Barockgeiger nah, sie hat ein eigenes Gesicht und das hört man bei Debütanten selten. […] „Invocation et Danse“ ist ein elektrisierendes Stück Musik, dessen Vielschichtigkeit Stefan Koim sehr plastisch herausstellt … mit deutlicheren Querverweisen, als es viele seiner Kollegen tun.[…]Er hat eine mehr als bemerkenswerte Debüt-CD vorgelegt: spannendes Programm, überzeugende Darstellung und, interessante Einblicke!“

GITARRE & LAUTE, Okt. 2016

„Stefan Koim bringt nicht nur den Mut auf, die Chaconne von Bach auf seiner 1. CD zu präsentieren, sondern er wird dem Werk auch technisch und im Formverständnis absolut gerecht. […]Die 7. Fantasie op. 30 von Sor musiziert Stefan Koim sehr fein, artikuliert und nuanciert mit schönen orchestralen Klangfarben. Auch die beiden „Klassiker“ der Gitarrenliteratur „Homenaje à Debussy“ (de Falla) und „Invocacion y Danza“ (Rodrigo) werden technisch virtuos und mit spanischen Feuer vorgetragen. Mit „Tellur“, einem spannenden Stück der Neuen Musik, gelingt dem Gitarristen ein eindrucksvoller Schluss einer insgesamt sehr empfehlenswerten CD.“

Auftakt! Ausgabe 3/2015

Passacaglia  della vita

–  an homage to the facets of life: heartache, betrayal, seduction, impermanence, excitement, fun and laughter.

Cembaless plays boldly, joyfully and passionately a hymn to life, expressing emotions ranging between the extreme polarities that human life offers. With its exciting arrangements and grooves the ensemble seeks to create spirited interpretations of early music that beat the pulse of the times!

In “Passacaglia della vita”, the persistently repeating bass melodies, or ostinati, represent the circle of life and all of its diverse emotions.  These ostinati form the basis on which the different languages and melodies as well as musical styles come into contact.

Cembaless’ arrangements offer a new interpretation of songs from the 17th century to early music enthusiasts und young ears. “To us, it is especially important to make music the way we do – free from dusty music structures and very much in the spirit of our own, modern interpretation.” So can the addition of the Persian drum be seen, perfectly merging together hip-hop beats with the early music.

VÖ-Termin: 29.01.2021

Label: Naxos Deutschland

Art.-Nr.: 8.551439

EAN: 730099143936

Bei allen Fragen rund ums Album wenden Sie sich an:

klassik21
PR für Künstler, Labels und Organisationen der klassischen Musik
Dr. Rainer Aschemeier
Tel.: +49 (0) 5531-8 14 48 99
www.klassik21.de

Cembaless: Passacaglia della Vita

„Dass historische Klänge unglaublich modern wirken können, beweist das Ensemble Cembaless […] Sie zeigen, wie lebendig man mit historischen Instrumenten musizieren kann – unbedingt anhören, absolut faszinierend!”

Ouveture: Das Klassik-Blog, Jan. 2021

„Die vierzehn Stücke, die einen vom ersten Takt eines Anonymus bis zu der abschließenden Bergamasca von Marco Uccellini in ihren Bann schlagen, wecken Erinnerungen an diverse Vorgänger aus allen Abteilungen des Musiklebens: […] zu dieser Musik lässt sich fantasievoll tanzen. Das Ostinato entwickelt seine Wirkung auch ohne elektrische Verstärker, unplugged.“

5 von 5 Sternen

Thomas Rothschild, Jan. 2021

„Die herrlichen Melodien werden inspiriert dargeboten, mit einer spielerischen Eleganz, die bei aller Virtuosität eine folkloristische Leichtigkeit suggeriert.

So entsteht ein unterhaltsames, ja sogar oft verzauberndes Programm, von dem der Hörer gar nicht genug bekommen kann. Bisogna morire? Nein, auf keinen Fall. Cembaless hält einen am Leben….“
Remy Franck’s journal about Classical Music, Pizzicato, Jan. 2021

Contact

12 + 11 =

Record Company/ Label:
Klassik-Center Kassel
Glöcknerpfad 47, 34134 Kassel
+49 561 81507461
info@klassikcenter-kassel.de

For all inquiries about the Album “Royal,” please contact:

klassik21

PR für Künstler, Labels und Organisationen der klassischen Musik
Dr. Rainer Aschemeier
Tel.: +49 (0) 5531-8 14 48 99
www.klassik21.de

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