Christian Kram: Diabelli-Contest 2014

Christian Kram Christian FP Kram was born in Volkach near Würzburg.
In 1994, after having completed a four-year study course of music theory and piano at the Folkwang-Hochschule Essen, Kram embarked on a postgraduate course in composition with Manfred Trojahn at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule Düsseldorf. He continued his studies with Peter Herrmann at the University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig. Besides that, he attended composition classes with Osvaldas Balakauskas, Paul-Heinz Dittrich, Folke Rabe, Wolfgang Rihm, Dieter Schnebel, Mathias Spahlinger and Gerhard Stäbler. He did his “Konzertexamen” in 1998 and from 1998 to 2000 took part in a composition master class with his former teacher, which he completed “With Distinction” in 2001. In addition he received a master student grant from the Free State of Saxony. This was followed by the Tübingen composition grant, two artist-in-residence grants for the Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf and two work grants from the Kulturstiftung Sachsen. From 2008 to 2010, Kram was a member of the music and performing arts committee at the Kulturstiftung Sachsen; since 2010, he has also been part of the music committee at Leipzig’s cultural office. In 2010, Kram was elected chairman of the Sächsischer Musikbund; besides that, he is a board member of MusikProjektSachsen. Kram organizes concert series and festivals of contemporary music.
His major works up to date include “Leonce und Lena”, an opera that is based on Büchner’s play and premiered to great success in 2000, orchestral works such as an Études cycle as well as lieder and chamber music works such as his Rilke Songs for vocal quartet and piano.