About

Stefan Beyer is a Berlin-based composer of experimental music.

Born in Braunschweig, Germany. Studies in composition, music, and history in Leipzig, Germany, and Gothenburg, Sweden.

Residencies i.e. in Los Angeles (Villa Aurora), U.S.A., in 2018 and Paris (Cité des Arts), France, in 2015/16.

International performances (i.e. Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Modern) and radio broadcasts (i.e. Deutschlandfunk Kultur, hr2, Latvian Radio 3, Radio Klara Belgium, NHK Japan). Scholarships and grants (i.e. Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, Else Heiliger Fonds).

Concert examination With Distinction (Konzertexamen mit Auszeichnung) in 2011. Teaching assignment (Lehrauftrag) for contemporary orchestration in 2011-13 at Leipzig Music University Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

Permanent contributor to the Musik & Ästhetik Journal (Klett-Cotta). Chairman and co-founder of the contemporary music and literature group and organization forma Leipzig e. V.

  • 2023 Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germay (6 months)
  • 2022 Künstlerhof Schreyahn, Germany (6 months)
  • 2018 SWR EXPERIMENTALSTUDIO Freiburg, Germany
  • 2018 Villa Aurora Los Angeles, U.S.A. (3 months)
  • 2017 Villa Wasmuth Rolandswerth, with Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Germany
  • 2016 Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf, Germany (4 months)
  • 2015-16 Cité des Arts Paris, France (6 months)
  • 2020 Musikfonds “Neustart Kultur” Program, Germany – Composition Grant
  • 2020 Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Germany – Composition Commission
  • 2020 Berlin Senate Department of Culture, Germany – Work Grant (Arbeitsstipendium der Kulturverwaltung des Senats Berlin)
  • 2019 inm Berlin, Germany – Composition Grant (initiative neue musik berlin e. V.)
  • 2018 Berlin Senate Department of Culture, Germany – Work Grant (Arbeitsstipendium der Kulturverwaltung des Senats Berlin)
  • 2014 Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Germany – Composition Commission
  • 2012 Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony, Germany – Work Grant (Arbeitsstipendium der Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen)
  • 2010-11 German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Stipendium der Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes)
  • 2010 Else Heiliger Fonds Scholarship of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation KAS Berlin, Germany
  • 2024 Brandenburger Biennale
    • New Work for Symphony Orchestra, premiere 25/26 season
  • 2017 Toru Takemitsu Award Tokio, Japan, 2nd Prize
    • Awarded Work: Ich habe nie Menschenfleisch gegessen
    • With: Tokyo Philharmonic, Kah Chun Wong, Juror: Heinz Holliger
  • 2017 Deutscher Musikwettbewerb (German Music Competition), Finalist
    • Awarded Work: Strandung
    • With: Simon Höfele, trumpet. Jury: Rebecca Saunders, Johannes Maria Staud, Frank Kämpfer
  • 2012 Darmstadt Summer Course, Germany: Call for Scores “boost!”
    • Awarded Work: papier zirkelst blei
    • With: Ensemble MAM. Manufaktur für Aktuelle Musik
  • 2010 Franz Liszt Prize, Weimar Music University, Germany
  • 2010 International Wind Orchestra Composition Contest Harelbeke, Belgium, 1st Prize
    • Awarded Work: Göta
    • Head of Jury: Lucas Vis
  • 2006 International Orchestra Composition Competition Murcia, Spain, 1st Prize
    • Awarded Work: über Leichen gehen
    • Juror: Fabián Panisello
  • 2006 Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Sweden: Call for Scores “Orchestra!”, 2nd Prize
    • Awarded Work: über Leichen gehen
    • Head of Jury: Luca Francesconi
  • 2004 International Composition Competition DKV Leipzig, Germany, 2nd Prize
    • Awarded Work: Bläserquintett Nr. 1
  • 2011­-13 Teaching assignment (Lehrauftrag), Contemporary Orchestration, Leipzig Music University, Germany
  • 2011- Permanent Contributor at Musik & Ästhetik Journal, Klett-Cotta publishing, Germany
  • 2011 Schloss Solitude Summer Academy (with Ch. Czernowin, S. K. Takasugi), Germany
  • 2011 Ensemble Modern Composition Seminar (with J. Kalitzke), Germany
  • 2010- Chairman and co-founder of forma Leipzig e. V., Germany
  • 2008/10/12 Darmstadt Summer Course, Germany
  • 2008-11 Concert Examination (Konzertexamen), Composition (with C.-S. Mahnkopf), Leipzig Music University, Germany
  • 2005-06 Composition Studies (ERASMUS program, with A. Hyltqvist, O. Lützow-Holm), Gothenburg Music University, Sweden
  • 2002-08 First State Examination (Erstes Staatsexamen), Music Education (Schulmusik), Leipzig Music University, Germany
  • 2002-08 First Staat Examination (Erstes Staatsexamen), History, Leipzig University, Germany

  • Paul-Heinz Dittrich (1930-2020). Nachruf. Musik & Ästhetik, 98, 2021.
  • Michael Quell: Chamber Music – Vol. 2. CD Review. Musik & Ästhetik, 97, 2021.
  • Luka Juharts deconstructing accordion. CD Review. Musik & Ästhetik, 74, 2015.
  • Mark Bardens a tearing of vision. Musik & Ästhetik, 70, 2014.
  • Claus-Steffen Mahnkopfs Erstes Streichquartett. In: Zehentreiter, Ferdinand (Ed.). Die Musik von Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf. 2012.
  • Eduardo Moguillanskys límites. Musik & Ästhetik, 61, 2012.
  • ‘Kein Minimalismus’. Enno Poppes Keilschrift. Musik & Ästhetik, 55, 2010.
  • Studien zu Areae Sonantes (1973) für Orchester. Der Komponist Paul-Heinz Dittrich. Thesis, 120 pages. Hochschule für Musik und Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Leipzig, 2008.
  • Contra publicam doctrinam. Calvisius’ Streit mit der Universität Leipzig. In: Gesine Schröder (Ed.) Tempus musicae – tempus mundi. Untersuchungen zu Seth Calvisius. Studien zur Geschichte der Musiktheorie, Vol. 4, 2008.