About Me

Multiple Crises, Feelings of Powerlessness, and the Beauty of the Moment

In today’s world of overlapping crises, we are confronted with overwhelming challenges that often leave us feeling powerless. We miss opportunities for genuine connection, and the beauty of the present moment slips away as we exhaust ourselves trying to stay in control of life.
With my music, I aim to create spaces that bring us back into the moment—spaces in which visions can grow and true encounters can take place.

Jazz in Florida

For a long time, I didn’t realize that improvisation could be something people take so seriously that it becomes the passionate core of their work. I grew up with classical music, and doing things “the right way” was the guiding principle.
I escaped the narrowness of a small Swabian town through a scholarship for a year abroad at a high school in Florida, USA. There, I encountered music from a completely different context for the first time: jazz. That was it. That was what I wanted to play. The energy. The promise of freedom.
I taught myself the saxophone and found my way into the school’s jazz band.

Doing Things “the Right Way”

Returning to Germany led me into a period of artistic isolation. I missed the spark that jazz had ignited in me. I couldn’t find it—neither as a saxophonist in the all-state youth jazz orchestra nor as a flutist in a classical music degree program. Once again, doing things “the right way” took center stage.
I started a family and, for the time being, packed music into family-friendly, everyday-compatible portions.

Vending Machine Coffee, Diapers, and Ten Magical Minutes

In the midst of everyday chaos, I ran into an old musician friend. He was in town for rehearsals and recordings with the hr Bigband, and we managed to squeeze in a short meeting over vending machine coffee.
That encounter raised questions: Had my longing for freedom and vitality in music gotten lost somewhere between my children’s diapers and a family-friendly job as a music teacher? Where was the spark that jazz had lit in me?
I set out again. With just ten minutes of practice a day, I began to reclaim music for myself.

Something Has to Change!

One evening, after a long and exhausting day, I got on my bike and headed to a concert—even though it was already far too late. A saxophonist I had occasionally taken lessons with was playing with his New York band. I had to be there.
It was fall—dark and cold. I pedaled hard. At least I would catch the second half.
I made it for the last piece. The venue was packed, the concert in full swing. I stood at the bar and was pulled straight into the music. The band played with an unconventionality and freshness that thrilled me. There it was again—the spark. And that freedom in the playing.
It felt like an invitation to take my vision seriously and to walk my path with courage. Ten minutes a day were no longer enough—I had to change something fundamentally. On my way home, I stopped at a bar around the corner, ordered a glass of sparkling wine, and ceremoniously marked my new beginning.

A Musician on My Own Terms

From that moment on, I claimed jazz and free sessions for myself, trusted my intuition, and immersed myself in Berlin’s improvised music scene. I got involved, organized improvisation conferences, taught improvisation ensembles at a university of music, and returned to school to complete a master’s degree in improvisation.
Since then, I have been working as a musician and performer, appearing regularly in various ensembles and performance projects. Improvisation has become an essential part of my artistic work.

Doing things “the right way” isn’t enough for me—I need space for creativity. My curiosity and my love of the unpredictable keep me moving forward.
Just as I left that jazz concert one autumn night filled with inspiration, I hope that my own artistic work can inspire others. I want to open up a space for connection, courage, and vision—a space that ignites their own spark.

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