About

Multi-percussionist, conductor and producer Mathias Reumert is one of the most sought-after musicians on the Danish contemporary music scene, active as soloist and in ensembles such as Mathias Reumert Group (formerly “Ekkozone”), Reumert/Elten Percussion Duo, PACE Percussion Trio and Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen. He also heads the newly established record label, Ekkozone Records.

Reumert won 1st Prizes at three international competitions (Concours International de Vibraphone 2002; PASIC Solo Competition 2004; Gaudeamus Interpreters’ Competition 2007) and then made his debut on CD in Poul Ruders’ Percussion Concerto, Monodrama, conducted by Thomas Søndergård, a disc that received praise in several publications, including in the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. This release was followed by a large number of recordings of works for solo percussion by composers such as Xenakis, Stockhausen, Ferneyhough, Donatoni, Henze, Globokar, Reynolds and Jodlowski.

The DVD, Mathias Reumert: Solo (Percussion Meets Art Cinema), which consists of works for solo percussion and performance art, marks an artistic highpoint. 'Solo' garnered top reviews in Danish and international magazines and was described by Denmark’s largest nationwide newspaper, Politiken, as "nothing short of ground-breaking" and "a colossal achievement" (18/2-2016).

The crossover ensemble Mathias Reumert Group is a continuation of Ekkozone, which Reumert formed in 2013 and led to international recognition. In order to enable greater touring activity, the number of musicians was reduced in 2023 and the band name changed to Mathias Reumert Group. On the same occasion, the record label Ekkozone Records was established.

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As a conductor, Reumert has led performances of major works such as Boulez's Le Marteau sans maître, Xenakis's EONTA and Per Nørgård's Violin Concerto, Borderlines. In 2023, he conducted the premiere of Roger Reynolds' oboe concerto, Journey, with the Esbjerg Ensemble and soloist Jacqueline Leclair.

He has composed works for the Funen Opera, Danish Dance Theater and the ballet at the Hannover Staatsoper. Together with his colleague David Hildebrandt, Reumert created and spent three years performing in the science fiction spectacle Ein Trommelspiel, concluding its run with performances at Moscow’s esteemed Meyerhold Theater (2013).

In addition to his own ensembles, Reumert serves as percussionist in Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen, Denmark's national ensemble for new music. To date, he has premiered over 150 works with Athelas.

Reumert holds degrees from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen and from the University of California, San Diego, where he studied with Steven Schick. He is the recipient of the Danish Arts Foundation’s Den Unge Elite grant and the Danish Music Critics’ Prize as well as a number of smaller awards.

He is the father of two children and lives in Copenhagen.

PHOTOS BY
Top of page: Christian Bonke
Gallery, top row, L-R: Christoffer Askman, Alexander Banck-Petersen, Caroline Bittencourt.
Gallery, bottom row, L-R: Caroline Bittencourt, Tzara Tristana, KLANG Festival

Slagtøjsspiller, dirigent og producer Mathias Reumert er en af de mest efterspurgte instrumentalister indenfor ny kompositionsmusik i Danmark. Han er aktiv både som solist og i ensemblerne Mathias Reumert Group, Reumert/Elten Percussion Duo, PACE Percussion Trio og Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen. Samtidig leder han det nystartede pladeselskab Ekkozone Records.

Reumert vandt 1.-priser ved tre internationale konkurrencer (Concours International de Vibraphone 2002; PASIC Solo Competition 2004; Gaudeamus Interpreters’ Competition 2007) og debuterede derefter på CD med Poul Ruders’ slagtøjskoncert Monodrama, dirigeret af Thomas Søndergård – en udgivelse som blev fremhævet af bl.a. New York Times og Philadelphia Inquirer. Siden fulgte et stort antal indspilninger af værker for soloslagtøj af komponister som Xenakis, Stockhausen, Ferneyhough, Donatoni, Henze, Globokar, Reynolds og Jodlowski.

DVD’en Mathias Reumert: Solo (Percussion Meets Art Cinema), som består af slagtøjsværker og avantgarde performancekunst, markerer et kunstnerisk højdepunkt. 'Solo' høstede topanmeldelser i danske og internationale tidsskrifter og blev af Politiken betegnet som “intet mindre end banebrydende” og “en kolossal bedrift” (18/2-2016).

Crossover-ensemblet Mathias Reumert Group er en videreførelse af Ekkozone, som Reumert dannede i 2013 og førte til international anerkendelse. For at muliggøre større turnéaktivitet blev antallet af musikere reduceret i 2023 og bandnavnet ændret til Mathias Reumert Group. Ved samme lejlighed blev pladeselskabet Ekkozone Records oprettet.

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Som dirigent har Reumert stået i spidsen for opførelser af mesterværker som Boulez’ Le Marteau sans maître, Xenakis’ EONTA og Per Nørgård’s violinkoncert, Borderlines. I 2023 dirigerede han uropførelsen af Roger Reynolds’ obokoncert Journey med Esbjerg Ensemble og solist Jacqueline Leclair.

Han har komponeret værker til Den Fynske Opera, Dansk Danseteater og balletten ved Hannover Staatsoper. Sammen med kollegaen David Hildebrandt skabte han science fiction-forestillingen Et Trommespil, som de opførte 2010-2013 på danske og udenlandske scener, afslutningsvis på det estimerede Meyerhold Teater i Moskva.

Ved siden af sine egne ensembler er Reumert slagtøjsspiller i Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen, Danmarks nationale ensemble for ny kompositionsmusik. Han har til dato uropført over 150 værker med Athelas.

Reumert tog diplomeksamen ved DKDM og videreuddannede sig hos professor Steven Schick ved University of California, San Diego. Han har modtaget Statens Kunstfonds Den Unge Elite-legat og Musikanmelderringens Kunstnerpris samt en række mindre priser.

Han er far til to børn og bor på Islands Brygge.

“En karismatisk solist med et fabelagtigt teknisk overskud”

[A charismatic soloist with an out-of-this-world technical ability]

– Klassisk, Sept. 2016

“Reumert is extraordinary…a masterful exponent, someone with impressive technique and poetic interpretive skills, and a real dramatic, theatrical flair.”

— Gapplegate Music Review, Feb. 2016

“Mathias Reumert is a true master percussionist as well as something of an entertainer”

— Fanfare Magazine, March 2016

“Manoury could hardly ask for a finer performer of his music than Mathias Reumert”.

– Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2023