Stefan Poetzsch

Stefan Poetzsch (b. 1963 in Magdeburg, Germany) began studying violin in his early youth in what was formerly East Germany. At the age of 16, he happened to catch a radio show broadcasting a piece focused on the music of Polish violinist Zbigniew Seifert and his subsequent death. Upon hearing Seifert’s approach to the instrument, Poetzsch’s interest in music from this moment on was forever changed. It instantly made the teenager look at the violin differently and how he approached the sound of its strings.

This change also spurred a drive in Poetzsch to seek freedom in his own life; the intertwining struggles of freedom and creativity in both his life and music carried a sentiment not accepted in the political climate at the time, eventually leading to his jailing in 1984.

After one year in prison Poetzsch left East Germany and started with his own projects in the West. He became involved with different improvisation projects and also toured his own solo show. Starting in the beginning with dance-based projects (for dancer Bettina Essaka), he began composing music in 1989. He later began composing and creating multimedia and radio performances. By 1990 he had developed a strong interest in creating new rhythmic approaches for string instruments influenced by African music. Since this time, he has performed several times in Africa and has also worked with African musicians and also continues to perform with the Bettina Essaka Dance Company and his own Stefan Poetzsch Ensemble across Europe, Africa, and the US.