Hans Thomalla

Hans Thomalla is the Helen A. Regenstein Professor of Composition at the University of Chicago, joining the faculty in 2024. A German-American composer based in Chicago and Berlin, his work centers on music for the stage, including four operas: Fremd (2011), Kaspar Hauser (2016), Dark Spring, and Dark Fall (2020, 2024). He studied at the Frankfurt Musikhochschule and earned his doctoral degree in composition from Stanford University.

Thomalla's research interests span contemporary composition, opera, and collaborative works for prestigious ensembles such as Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Ensemble Modern, and the Arditti Quartet. His creative practice bridges traditional and experimental approaches to music, emphasizing performance-driven narratives.

His scientific accolades include the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis, the Composer Prize of the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung, the Christoph Delz Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Koussevitsky Commission. He was a fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (2014/15) and the German Academy Villa Massimo in Rome (2024/25).