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Education

  • 1984–85 studies of philosophy, TU Darmstadt
  • 1985–86 studies of music at Conservatorium Hilversum
  • 1986–88 Conservatorium Rotterdam
  • 1988–90 Berklee School of Music, Boston (Masterstudent with Gary Burton, Herb Pomeroy, Hal Crook)
  • 1993–94 studies of composition with Hans-Ulrich Engelmann
  • 1996 composition masterclasses with Karl Heinz Stockhausen, Earle Brown, Wolfgang Rihm, Magnus Lindberg
  • 1994–95 Dispokinese, Bodytechniques with Heidrun Wunsch
  • 1999 composition masterclass with Edith Lejet
  • 2001–02 Body Mind Centering, with J. Johanssen and F. Tröscher
  • 2003–2005 Master of Arts in Human-Recources and Organisational, Development at TU Kaiserslautern
  • 2012 Doctorate (Dr. phil.) in Organizational Psychology, University Duisburg-Essen
  • 2014 Habilitation in cultural engineering, University Magdeburg
  • 2014–today ↓

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Work

  • since 1990 freelance work as theoretician, musician, performer, composer and curator
  • 1992-2000 Head of Studio for Improvisation, Akademie für Tonkunst, Darmstadt.
  • seit 2000 Head of Institute for Improvisation Technology, Berlin
  • 2003 curator with Bernd Kniess of the exhibition „radical architecture- processing uncertainty“,
    Museum for Applied Arts Cologne
  • 2005 co-curator of the exhibition „find the gap – new ways in architecture“,
    Aedes Galerie, Berlin
  • 2005–08 Member of the advisory board „Internationalen Forum for Design“, HfG Ulm
  • 2006 Teaching Position Experimental Design, University for Design, Karlsruhe
  • 2006–07 Teaching Position Architecture Theory, University of Fine Arts, Berlin
  • 2008 Artist in Residence, Goethe-Institut Kolkata, Indien
  • since 2009 Member of executive board „Aedes Network Campus“, Berlin
  • 2008–2010 Guest-Professor for Urban Design Theory HafenCity Universität Hamburg
  • 2008–2013 researchproject „Universität der Nachbarschaften“ (UdN),
    Kooperation HafenCity Universität Hamburg mit IBA Hamburg und Kampnagel
  • 2008–2011 BMBF researchproject MICC MusicCorporateCulture
    in cooperation with Orglab, Universität Duisburg-Essen
  • 2009 Guest Lecturer Architectural Association, London
  • 2009 Co-Curator exhibition„What makes india urban?“, Aedes Galerie, Berlin
  • 2010–2011 Scientist in Residence, Kampnagel, Hamburg,
    since 2011 Member of the advisory board „Civic City“, School for Art and Design, Geneva
  • 2012–13 Visiting-Professor for Urban Design Theory, Technical University Munich
  • 2013 Co-Curator of symposium „performative urbanism“, TU München, Pinakothek der Moderne
  • 2013–today ↓

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Worked with in music (among others)

  • Bob Brookmeyer
  • Charlie Mariano
  • Norbert Scholly
  • Benny Golson
  • Kenny Wheeler
  • Wolfgang Haffner
  • Katia & Marielle Labèque
  • Jazzensemble des HR
  • Albert Mangelsdorf
  • WDR Big Band
  • Lee Konitz
  • John Schröder
  • Barry Altschul
  • Christof Lauer
  • NDR Big Band
  • Heinz Sauer
  • Nils Landgren
  • Tomas Stanko
  • Manfred Schoof
  • Michel Godard
  • Lalo Schifrin
  • Tom Scott
  • Ernie Watts
  • Peter Erskine
  • Hiram Bullock
  • Billy Cobham
  • Bob Degen
  • Lars Daniellson
  • Christian Lillinger
  • Makaya Ntshoko
  • John Tchicai
  • Paquito d’Rivera
  • and more ↓

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Teaching in music

  • 1991–1992 Teacher for piano at the Jazzschool Frankfurt a.M.
  • 1992–2000 Head of Studio for Improvisation at the Academy of Music, Darmstadt,
    foundation of the studio for improvisation and experimental music.
  • Since 1993 Teacher at the „Jazzconceptions“, Darmstadt
  • 1993–today ↓

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Awards

  • 1988 Scholarship Berklee School of Music
  • 1989 „Gary Burton Jazz Award“, Boston
  • 1990 Downbeat Musicfest „All-Star-Soloist“, Oakland
  • 1993 Finalist Europ. Jazzcompetition, Brüssel
  • 1993 Jazzprize of the City of Frankfurt
  • 1996 Scholarship „International Summerclasses for New Music“ Darmstadt
  • 1996 Compositionprize ERTA
  • 1998 „Deutsche Schallplattenpreis“ for CD „Dancers on a plane“
  • 1999 Tour Award Africa, Goethe Institute
  • 2000 Tour Award India, Goethe Institute
  • 2000 WDR Scholarship for chamber composition
  • 2001 Prize of the City Cologne for the Performance-Project “At the edge of time”
  • 2001 „Jazz Art Award“ music of the 21. century for the project D.R.A.
  • 2002 „1above0“, composition comissioned by the WDR and the Museum For Applied Arts, Cologne
  • 2003 USA-Canada Tour Goethe Institute
  • 2005 Musikprize of the city of Stadt Darmstadt
  • 2006 Southamerica Tour Goethe Institute
  • 2007–08 Artist in Residence, Goethe Institute, Kolkata, India
  • 2009 Grammy-Nomination for „Blauklang“, Vince Mendoza
  • 2010 short list “Urban Intervention Award” Senate of Berlin
  • 2010 1. Prize Urban Design Competition, „Living in Friedenstal“, Bernau, with Mario Abel, Ton Matton,
    Bernd Kniess Finalist German Jazz Prize with DRA
  • 2014 „Das arbeitende Konzert/ The working concert“ composition comissioned by the Goethe Institute
  • 2014–today ↓

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Press Media / vita and image download

The following downloads are free to use for press and media work. ©Christopher Dell.

Biography
Current curriculum vitae (.zip/Word doc): download →
Aktuelles Résumé (.zip/Word-Dokument): herunterladen →

Photography
Portrait of Christopher Dell by Johanna Lippmann (attribution desired): view/download →

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