Nils Ostendorf, composer
Born in Hamburg in 1977, lives in Berlin.
Studied jazz trumpet at the Folkwang Universität der Künste in Essen/Germany and at Rotterdams Conservatorium/Netherlands 1997-2002 including stays in New York and at the Banff Centre for the Arts with scholarships by the NRW Department of Culture and the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) in 2000 and 2001.
Nils Ostendorf is active internationally as a trumpet player in the experimental and improvised music scene and played concerts in renown festivals throughout Europe, the US and Canada. He worked with musicians like Kim Myhr, Benoit Delbecq, Michel Doneda and currently tours with french pianist Eve Risser and her french-malian music ensemble “Kogoba Basigui” and her band “Eurythmia”. In 2017, he founded the synth-rock band »Polypore« with Daniel Freitag and Max Andrzejewski, where he also plays synthesizers.
In 2004 he started working as a musical director, composer and live musician for dance companies and did several productions with choreograph Samir Akika and choreograph Felix Bürkle. In 2015 creation of the music theatre piece Sinfonia Llanera during the project Sinfonia Tropico in Colombia, supported by an artist residence of the Goethe Institute.
Since 2006 extensive work as a composer, musical director and live musician for theatre, mainly with directors Mikael Serre, Thomas Ostermeier, Marius von Mayenburg, Falk Richter and Yael Ronen.
Selected works for theatre:
In my room, 2020, and Verräter, 2017, both by Falk Richter at Maxim Gorki Theater
Das Leben des Vernon Subutex, text: Virginie Despentes 2020; Abgrund , text; Maja Zade, 2019, Italienische Nacht, text: Odon von Horvarth 2018, Im Herzen der Gewalt, text: Edouard Louis 2018, Rückkehr nach Reims, text: Didier Eribon 2017, Richard III, text: William Shakespeare 2015 - all by director Thomas Ostermeier at Schaubühne Berlin.
Jugend ohne Gott, text: Ödon von Horvarth, Salzburger Festspiele 2019, La Nuit des Rois, text: William Shakespeare, Comedie Francaise, Paris 2018, Die Möwe, text: Anton Checkhov, Theatre Vidy Lausanne 2016 - all by director Thomas Ostermeier.
A Walk on the dark side, 2018, Denial, 2016, Common Ground 2014 - all by director Yael Ronen at Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin.
Linda, text: Penelope Skinner, director: Marius von Mayenburg, Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus 2019; Rise of Glory, Aufstieg und Fall der Lehman Brothers, text: Stefano Massini, director Marius von Mayenburg, Residenztheater Munich 2016; Je suis Jeanne, text: Friedrich Schiller, director: Mikael Serre, Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin 2015, Rise of Glory, performance of Mikael Serre, Sebastien Dupouey and Nils Ostendorf at Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin 2014.
Selected CD releases:
Konzert Minimal plays Antone Beuger’s Tschirtner Tunings on Another Timbre (2014)
Cristallisation in duo with Michel Doneda on Absinth Records (2012)
Balance des Blancs with “Silencers” on Sofa Records (2011)
The fire throws with “Trigger“ on Insubordinations (2011)
Subsurface with the trio Ostendorf/Lauzier/Zoubek on Schraum (2010)
At the Carneval with Professor Doctor Doctor on Brennt Rekords (2008)
In 2000 Nils Ostendorf was honored with the Folkwang Music Award.