Born in 1963 in Schlüchtern (Hesse), she studied composition with Frank Michael Beyer and Gösta Neuwirth at the Hoschschule der Künste in Berlin (1983-91) and subsequently with Hans Zender at Frankfurt University (1991-94). She also studied electronic music at the Technische Universität and musicology (with Carl Dahlhaus). In 1986-93 she taught composition and music analysis at the Berliner Kirchenmusik-Schule and the Hochschule der Künste. She subsequently lived and worked in Paris thanks to grants from the Cité des Arts and ircam.
In 1996 she became a professor at the Higher School of Music in Frankfurt. In 1998 and 2000 she lectured at the International Summer Courses in Darmstadt.
Her honours include the Boris Blacher Prize, the Schneider-Schott-Musikpreis and the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis of the City of Dartmstadt.

Selected works: Le Silence - Tystnaden for ensemble (1993), gezeiten for 25 strings (1995), words I for orchestra (1995), Le Voyage for ensemble (1996), Werk for ensemble (1996), words for orchestra and integrated ensemble (1996-97), Flugsand for orchestra (1998), Gesichter for soprano, reciting voice, two percussions and electronics (1997), Lieder for mezzo-soprano and piano, to a text by Peter Waterhouse (1998), Komposition für Flöte und Schlagzeug (1998), Anagramm for voice and piano to a text by Unika Zürn (2000), Werk for string quartet and orchestra (2001), Werk for piano and orchestra (2001).

Komposition für Flöte und Schlagzeug is a picture of an imaginary sculpture. Partly transparent, it changes depending on which side it is looked at. Flute and percussion do not create an opposition between the melodic and percussion instrument but constitute one sound complex. The various sound particles are developed from this complex and in their new formations they change and overlap each other. In this polyphony it can sometimes happen that the flute is a source of short sound impulses and the percussion 'sings'.
The composition was premiered on November 23, 1998 at the Tage für Neue Kammermusik in Branuschweig (Germany).

Isabel Mundry