Lou Kilger

Lou Kilger serves as Professor of composition and sound design for digital media at KreativInstitut.OWL since 2023 and holds a teaching position in sound direction at State University of Music Trossingen since 2020. An active composer with works premiering at prestigious venues including the Donaueschingen Music Festival and Munich Biennale, he bridges artistic creation with technical innovation in digital media environments.

His educational background includes:

• Concert exam in composition from Cologne University of Music and Dance (2020-2022)
• Master in Sound Direction from University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt (2019)
• Master in Electronic Composition from Cologne University of Music and Dance (2017)
• Bachelor of Music Design from State University of Music Trossingen (2011)

Professor Kilger's research centers on intermedia composition where digital media, sound design, and music informatics converge. He creates environments where 'things that are unimaginable on your own suddenly become tangible' through team-oriented approaches. His work explores states between reality and virtuality using binaural audio, mobile platforms, and glitch aesthetics, often incorporating biological metaphors and fluid dynamics. Projects like the mei-friend Editor demonstrate his commitment to advancing musicological markup standards while maintaining artistic innovation.

His creative output shows clear progression from audiovisual miniatures (2013-2017) to complex intermedia systems (2021-2024), with increasing emphasis on digital space composition and audience interaction. Recent works like 'smonize' (2024) and 'nournimity' (2023) feature multichannel sound, bio-inspired design, and virtual reality elements, reflecting his focus on 'being between reality and virtuality.'

While no formal awards are listed, his SWR commission for Donaueschingen Music Festival 2024 represents significant recognition. Key projects include:

• Musicological Markup in the mei-friend Editor (released January 2025)
• Internship program at KIO providing cross-disciplinary research exposure (2024)
• Live Coding Meetups fostering technical-artistic collaboration

Professor Kilger actively supervises students through teaching positions at two institutions and integrates them into live projects. His funding includes the SWR commission and mei-friend Editor development, supporting team-oriented approaches where students collaborate with specialized colleagues. He emphasizes practical experience in 'artistic, compositional and technical production fields,' preparing students for careers at the intersection of art and technology.

Though no formal lab name is specified, his work operates within KreativInstitut.OWL's research ecosystem focused on digital media production. The environment fosters collaboration across disciplines, with students and researchers contributing to intermedia projects that combine composition, sound design, and emerging technologies in team-oriented settings.