A German composer born April 20, 1963.
Having studied composition at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin with Franck Michael and Gösta Neuwirth (1983-1991), Isabel Mundry took advanced classes with Hans Zender at the Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt (1991-1994). She has also trained in electronic music, at the studio of Fribourg as well as at that of the Technical University of Berlin, where she in addition studied musicology, the history of art and philosophy. She completed her studies with the composition and computer music course at Ircam (1992-1994).
Mundry is sensitive to the other arts, with a predilection for the cinema, the figurative arts and literature. In particular she is interested in the paintings of Paul Cézanne, the photography of Thomas Wredes, Japanese gardens and the poems of Friedrich Schiller, Heinrich Heine and Durs Grünbein. She has also collaborated with artistes such as the architect Peter Zumthor, the choreographers Reinhild Hoffmann, Jörg Weinöhl and the novelist Yoko Tawada.
In her work she explores the notion of space and its multiples facets, developing a spatial conception of sound and examining the relationship between time and space. She tackles all genres and at times uses electronics. Her works include Spiegel Bilder for clarinet and accordion, first performed at the festival of Witten (1996); Traces of the moments for quintet, first performed at the festival of Darmstadt (2000); Ein Atemzug - die Odyssee, music theatre, first performed at the Deutsche Oper of Berlin (2005); Zeichnungen for string quartet and orchestra, first performed by the Arditti Quartet and Symphony Orchestra of the WDR, conducted by Lothar Zagrosek in Cologne (2006); Nicht ich – Über das Marionettentheater for soprano, dancer, voice and ensemble, first performed by Petra Hoffmann, Jörg Weinöhl, the Ensemble Recherche and the Vokalensemble in Thoune, Switzerland (2011); Sounds, Archeologies for basset horn, cello and piano, commissioned by Radio Berlin-Brandenburg, first performed at the festival Ultraschall (2018); Mouhanad for chorus, commissioned by the SWR for the ensemble vocal SWR (2018); Gefallen for mezzo-soprano and ensemble, first performed at the BBC Proms in London (2018); Concerto for percussion and ensemble, co-commissioned by Radio France and the Ensemble Intercontemporain, first performed at the festival Présences (2020).
Isabel Mundry has also taught composition at the Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt (1996-2005), the Hochschule der Künste in Zurich (since 2004) and at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich (since 2011).
