Stefan Rusconi photo by Gregor Brändli

Stefan Rusconi (pianist/musician/composer) lives in Berlin with family and friends. Initially active in improvised and experimental music, he toured globally with his band RUSCONI (2004-2017), alongside members Claudio Strüby (drums) and Fabian Gisler (bass). The band released seven albums, including three on Sony Music and others on Qilin Records, before disbanding in 2017 after a significant impact on the jazz scene. In 2015, he composed music for the dance piece UNTIL OUR HEARTS STOP, directed by Meg Stuart, co-produced by the Münchner Kammerspiele and Ruhrtriennale, which he performed nearly 100 times worldwide and significantly shaped his artistic trajectory. Since 2017, he has collaborated with Angela Schubot and Jared Gradinger on projects like YEW (2017), YEW: outside (2018), and THE NATURE OF US (2019).

Stefan is involved in LEVITATION, performing on church organ with violinist Tobias Preisig. His hybrid performance The Mushroom Piano (2022) premiered at the Moving in November Festival in Helsinki, which featured a piano played by mushrooms measuring micro-fluctuations in conductivity. In 2023, he created Sonic Tapestry with the artist collective Convene Gathering, led by Claudia Hill. In 2024, he composed the piano score for the upcoming film KÖLN75, directed by Ido Fluk, about Vera Brandes (Mala Emde) and the making of Keith Jarrett’s (John Magaro) Köln Concert, set for release in 2025. His first solo piano album, SOLACE, will be released in October 2024, showcasing intimate compositions performed on his grand piano in Berlin.

Stefan has performed at numerous festivals worldwide and collaborated with prominent artists, including Fred Frith, Thomas Wydler (Bad Seeds), Dieter Meier (Yellow), Thom Luz, Roman Signer, Beate Bartel, Luca Aquino, Nora Schlocker, Laura de Weck, Norma Winstone, and Pipilotti Rist. He is actively involved with the Árvore Foundation, advocating for improvements in the freelance music scene in Switzerland and Germany. Additionally, he co-founded the Musikerhaus Die Wache in Berlin and the Gwärtler Stiftung, where he served on the Board of Trustees for ten years.

Selected festivals include Montreux Jazz Festival (CH), London Jazz Festival (ENG), Jarasum Jazz Festival (KOR), Penang Jazzfestival (MYS), Tokyo Jazz Festival (JP), Garana Jazz Festival (ROU), Kampnagel Sommerfestival (D),  Paris Music Festival (FR), Ruhrtriennale (D), Überjazz Hamburg (D), Bad Bonn Kilbi Festival (CH), JazzNoJazz Festival (CH), Cully Jazzfestival (CH), Fusion Festival (D) and La Biennale di Venezia (IT).

LEVITATION by Tobias Preisig (viol), Stefan Rusconi (church organ) photo credit by Medhi Benkler

Inspired by

Colors, wind, archery, other humans, moon, plants, honesty, other creations, mushrooms, shapes in nature, a burning candle, friendship, books, films, kindness, matcha, a good talk, stones, snow, mountains, most smells, letting go, speed, rhythm, touch.

Awards (selection)

  • Werkjahr of the City of Zurich, Switzerland, 2013 /// ECHO Jazz: voted by the audience as Best Live Act with RUSCONI, Germany 2013  /// Pro Helvetia high ranking jazz promotion with RUSCONI between 2010-2012, Switzerland /// ECHO Jazz: for best pianist, Germany 2011 /// Winner of Generations Jazzfestival, Switzerland 2006

Studio

Die Wache
Eberswalder Str. 10
10437 Berlin, Germany

Contact

bonjour@stefanrusconi.com
www.stefanrusconi.com

Stiftung

Stiftung Árvore, Baselwww.arvore.ch

About: Árvore is transforming music funding by covering a portion of artists‘ living costs for four years, allowing them to focus on their music. This long-term, personal support is rare and aims to gain wider acceptance, including in state funding. Established in 2015, the foundation has supported 120 artists so far. Fabian Gisler and Stefan Rusconi, both freelance musicians, are on the Board of Trustees.