composer
Biography:
The composer Mela Meierhans, born in Switzerland in 1961, lives in Berlin and Buckow / Brandenburg. Important artistic impulses came from the parental home (contemporary music and abstract painting). Essential creative interests since 1989 are complexity and openness, interdisciplinary cooperation, development of interactive scores in the fields of music, dance, film, performance, theatre, installation and architecture. Since 2003 her work has focused on music theater / music in (public) space. Since 2006 she has been working on the "Hereafter Trilogy" on the subject of Christian, Islamic and Jewish death and mourning rituals: 2006 UA of Part I, Aunt Hansi, 2010 Part II, Rithaa, 2014 Part III, Shiva for Anne. From 1998 to 2000, Mela Meierhans was a guest composer in the Electronic Studio of the Music Academy in Basel. She has received various work and promotional awards, e.g. from the city of Lucerne, Zug, Basel and Berlin.
From 1989 to 2010, Mela Meierhans was commissioned to compose a.o. by: MaerzMusik Berlin, Theaterfabrik Gera, Hanover State Opera, Lucerne Festival, Festival del Centro Histórico de Mexico City, Pro Helvetia, Experimentale Leipzig, Gare du Nord Basel, Berlin composition commissions, Basel Symphony Orchestra, The Roosevelt Ensemble Washington, basel sinfonietta, Migros Culture Percentage , Klangwerkstatt Berlin, Days for Live Electronics Basel; Audio design etc. for Swiss Radio DRS 2 and for Pro Helvetia. In 2006 she founded the »ensemble dialogue«, an association of musicians who play not only classical but also traditional instruments of folk music and are also at home with improvisation. Awards / grants / residencies: Since 1989 various grants from Pro Helvetia, Federal Cultural Foundation; Artist in Residence, Cairo /Egypt (2008); Composer of the Week "European Music Month 2001" Basel; City of Lucerne Recognition Award (2001); composer in residence of the »basel sinfonietta« (2000 / 2001); 3rd prize of the glass music festival Frauenau D for Canthus to Canthus (1999); 1st prize Classic Signets Swiss Radio DRS (1998); Sponsorship Award of the Canton of Zug (1997); Work prize for composition from the city and canton of Lucerne (1993); Work grant for composition by the city and canton of Lucerne (1990).
Albums:
