Composer
Biography:
Gerald Eckert, born in Nuremberg in 1960, studied physics at Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg after graduating from high school, then cello, piano and conducting at the Nuremberg Conservatory from 1985 to 1990, and mathematics at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg from 1987 to 1992. From 1989, he studied composition with W. Jentzsch. After studying composition with Walter Zimmermann (at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen), he studied composition with N.A. Huber and electroacoustic composition with D. Reith at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen from 1992 to 1995 and took part in various composition courses with J. Dillon, B. Ferneyhough and J. Harvey.
In 1996/97, he spent a working and research stay at the CCRMA (Centre for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics) at Stanford University, California, USA. In 1998, he was a lecturer at the International Summer Courses in Darmstadt and at the International Festival & Seminar in Akiyoshidai, Japan. From 2000 to 2002, he taught at the Technical University of Darmstadt (composition and architecture). In 2000, he realised a dance project with D. Neiman.
Gerald Eckert has received numerous prizes and awards, including: C. Gulbenkian Prize (Portugal, 1993), NDR Music Prize (1994), Selection World Music Days (1995, 2004, 2008), Scholarship from the Fondation Royaumont (1995), Kranichstein Music Prize (1996), ICMC (1996 Hong Kong and 2003 Singapore), Biennale '97 Hanover, Martirano Competition (USA 2003) , 1st Prize Bourges (2003), Elisabeth Schneider Prize (2005), Scholarship from the Academy of Arts Berlin (2005), 1st Prize at the 50th Stuttgart Composition Competition (2005) and a scholarship from the Federal Cultural Foundation for Venice (2006).
As a cellist (member of ensemble reflexion K), he has made CD and radio recordings in recent years with works by Zender, Cage, Feldman, Lehmann and his own compositions. He is co-initiator of the festival “Chiffren” (Kiel 2006) and the festival “Provinzlärm” (Eckernförde 2007). Since 1989, he has also been working on his own paintings and has realised various exhibitions and installations since 1994. Catalogues were published in 1995, 2006 and 2007. Gerald Eckert lives as a freelance composer in Eckernförde.
Albums:
