Annette Rießner

was born in Weißenburg, Germany in 1978. She studied music at the Institute of the Arts Ufa in Russia, and at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler”, Berlin and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Freiburg, in Germany. While still a student she won prizes in several national and international competitions (Deutscher Akkordionmusikpreis, Germany, 2000; Prix Azzolla, Marseille, France, 2003) and received a scholarship from the Yehudi-Menuhin-Stiftung “live music now.” She continues to develop her musical proficiency through bandoneon lessons with Marcelo Nisinman.

Her special interest in all forms of contemporary and experimental music and its presentation was already clear during Annette’s (/Ms. Rießner’s) studies. This led to active cooperation with many young composers and an equally active performance life.
(-- Theater, radio drama and film music for the Hans-Otto Theater in Potsdam; for the German television station ARTE; for the German national hall of arts Bundeskunsthalle together with the television station 3 Sat; for the radio and television station Suedwestrundfunk – SWR.
-- Orchestra projects with the DSO, Berlin; the WDR – Radio Symphony Orchestra Köln; the Basel Sinfonietta and the Deutscher Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern.
-- Solo and chamber music at the Magma Festival and Unerhoerte Musik Berlin, etc.)

The possibilities for creative cooperation and realization of unusual concert ideas have become the focal point of Annette’s/ Ms. Rießners artistic work in the last few years. To this end she has expanded her (accordion) teaching activities at the Musikschule Waldkirch, Germany, to include regular course offerings on Contemporary Music. Titled “Gleichzeit” (literally “sametime”), this project offers varied workshops for children and teens which allow the participants to explore “free improvisation”, “experimental music”, “electronic music”, etc. on a very hands-on and engaging basis.

Annette/Ms. Rießner is organizational director of the Freiburg, Germany artist ensemble ALARM since 2007; ALARM’s first performances are planned for the summer of 2008.

She is also founding member of two new duos: UPDATE (with Cornelia Boczek, clarinet), and the accordion duo Randgruppe (with Silke Lange), which is planning its debut tour for this year, “Randgruppens Raststätten-Tour 2008.” (Further information at www.duo-randgruppe.de)