Jakob Lerch

Jakob Lerch (*2005) is a composer and music-maker living in Essen. His focus lies on new music and improvised music, but also on jazz and classical music. In this pursuit, he tries to find new sounds for himself by experimenting with techniques and in interdisciplinary spaces. This exploration mostly happens in his solo and chamber music compositions, but also in his musical improvisations, mainly on saxophone, clarinet, and flute. 

At a young age, Jakob began to play guitar and recorder in kindergarten. He has been playing saxophone since the age of 8, and later added piano, clarinet, and flute. From nearly the beginning, composition has been a constant companion to help him find and interpret his own musical expression. Jakob received instrumental lessons for many years at the Folkwang Music School in Essen, the Glen Buschmann Jazz Academy in Dortmund, and from experienced teachers (including Roman Sieweke, Uwe Plath, Roland Kämmerling). Jakob receives composition lessons from Gianluca Castelli.

Since early childhood, Jakob has been actively playing in a wide variety of jazz and classical music formations (including various jazz combos, big bands, orchestras, Junge Bläserphilharmonie NRW). He won first place at the Jugend Musiziert national competition.