About Kaspar Ewald

Prior to his studies, Kaspar Ewald (born 1969) wrote compositions for his own jazz-rock big band called KGB (Kaspars Grosse Band – Kaspar’s Big Band). Between 1990 and 1996, he studied composition and music theory with Detlev Müller-Siemens and Roland Moser at the Basle Music Academy. Furthermore, Kaspar took lessons with Hans Feigenwinter at the Basle Jazz School and attended Ennio Morricone's seminar on film music. In 1997 Kaspar Ewald won the Christoph Delz Foundation composer grant, a prize which the Basle-based foundation awarded for the first time that year. This prize made it possible for Kaspar to compose his musical theater “Brambilla”. In 1999, after additional studies at the Electronic Studio of the Berlin University of the Arts (HdK) and another stay abroad in Amsterdam, Kaspar Ewald primarily worked as a production manager. Since fall 2000, he has been teaching at the Musikhochschule Zürich. In addition to commissioned compositions for various ensembles, Kaspar Ewald primarily writes pieces for his “Exorbitantes Kabinett”, a big band made up of classical and jazz musicians.

Kaspar Ewald’s composition concepts are mostly based on approaching and tackling polyrhythmic structures. Igor Stravinsky and James Brown were his most important influences. But Kaspar also has a flair for the theater. It is no surprise, therefore, that he shows particular interest in projects that include acting or feature at least some small theatrical elements. Kaspar Ewald is a member of the Basle Fencing Association.