Born in Zurich in 1958.
Studied classical guitar in Winterthur with Antonio Valero and Karl Scheit; passed the concert qualification examination in 1979.
Studied composition at the State University of Music in Freiburg im Breisgau under Klaus Huber from 1981 to 1985.
Further training in voice, conducting and historical performance practice.
Active participant in international composition seminars at Lenzburg, in Aarau, Boswil and in Baden.
Prize-winner in Boswil in 1991.
Composes music focusing on microtonality, harmony and tonal systems, conceptual compositions, for projects with artists from other disciplines, commissioned by ensembles, foundations and the public sector, as well as theatre music and numerous arrangements for orchestras and ensembles.
From 1984, transition to a radically simplified musical language in order to make the minute intonational nuances arising from harmony musically perceptible to performers and listeners, accompanied by a search for various forms of notation appropriate to the music, as well as increasingly conceptual compositions.
Performances in Switzerland (including the World Music Days 1991, Tonkünstlerfeste 1997, 1999, 2004, Feste der Künste 1996 and 2000, Sechzehntelton-Klavierfestival Zürich 1999), in Denmark, Germany (including Musik unserer Zeit Saarbrücken 1997, Festival ‘Frühlingsstimmungen’ Berlin 2001), France, Greece (Thessaloniki Music Festival 1982), Italy, USA (American Festival of Microtonal Music, New York 1994).
Member of the composer collectives mikro, and timescraper / Wandelweiser.
Concert performances as a guitarist. A 10-string guitar with interchangeable fretboards allows for playing in various tuning systems and tunings. Numerous world premieres and first performances of ‘microtonal’ new music, as well as works by the ‘quarter-tone classics’ Alois Hâba and Julian Carrillo.
Since 2007, further training on historical guitar instruments with Christian Zimmermann, Ulrich Wedemeier and Rafael Bonavita. Reconstruction and reperformances of 18th-century Spanish music (Ferandiere, Abreu, etc.)
Concert organiser, including as President of IGNM Zurich from 1991 to 1997.
Founder and director of the ensemble La Vuelta (interdisciplinary projects combining early and contemporary music on historical instruments), together with his wife, the composer and percussionist Regina Irman.
Teaching activities at the Winterthur Conservatoire for theory and chamber music 1983–87, 1992–2022 at PMS and PH Kreuzlingen (guitar, theory, interdisciplinary projects, conducting of the orchestra of PH and PMS)
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