New holder of the Claussen Simon Foundation opera scholarship

The content on this page was translated automatically.

Clemens K. Thomas is the new holder of the composition and doctoral scholarship jointly awarded by the Claussen Simon Foundation, the Hamburg State Opera and the Institute for Cultural Innovation Research at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama.

Clemens K. Thomas has been commissioned to compose a piece of music theater for the Staatsoper's opera stabile, which will be premiered in the 2024/25 season under the title "Dollhouse". As part of the Claussen Simon Foundation's Dissertation Plus scholarship program, he will also write and submit an artistic-scientific dissertation on strategies of transmedia storytelling in the field of tension between art, mediation and marketing at the University of Music and Drama. The funding begins on October 1, 2022.

In addition Prof. Dr. Reinhard FlenderDirector of the Institute for Cultural Innovation Research at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama: "Artistic innovation needs a funding framework in which theory and practice are intertwined. The Claussen Simon Foundation's opera scholarship provides this in an ideal way, as the theoretical reflection on the artistic work is stimulated by the dissertation and the world premiere of Clemens Thomas' new music theater composition is professionally put into practice by the State Opera. It is to be expected that something completely new will emerge here in terms of aesthetics and musical dramaturgy."

Vita
Born in Karlsruhe in 1992, Clemens K. Thomas studied composition with Prof. Johannes Schöllhorn and Prof. Cornelius Schwehr and harpsichord with Prof. Dr. Robert Hill at the Freiburg University of Music. His main interests are the creative exploration of musical tradition, vocal music (especially music theater) and the encounter between everyday objects and musical instruments. His compositions repeatedly deal with play and playfulness, the world of play, toys and instrumental playing. In addition to vocal and music-theatrical pieces, his portfolio also includes site-specific compositions for concerts in a mine or on a bus, as well as installation works. Clemens' works have been performed by ensembles such as Ensemble Recherche, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart and Ensemble Proton Bern, as well as at Staatstheater Braunschweig, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Hamburger Bahnhof Berlin, the ECLAT Festival and Opera Zuid in Maastricht. His music has been broadcast on Deutschlandfunk Kultur, SWR 2 and SR 2, among others.

The Claussen Simon Foundation
The Claussen Simon Foundation supports talented young people at various stages of their school, academic, professional and personal development. We offer scholarship programs and project funding in the areas of "Science & University", "Education & School" and "Art & Culture". The "Dialogue & Perspectives" area bundles the cross-programme non-material funding offers, with seminars, lecture events, discussion series and other meeting formats.
The Claussen Simon Foundation has been a foundation under civil law with legal capacity based in Hamburg since 2012. It was established in 1982 as a trust foundation by Georg W. Claussen, then Chairman of the Supervisory Board and previously Chairman of the Executive Board of Beiersdorf AG for many years, to mark the 100th anniversary of the company's founding. A testamentary disposition by his cousin Ebba Simon significantly increased the foundation's assets in 1999. Ebba Simon thus endorsed Georg W. Claussen's desire to endow prospects and scope for development for researchers, students and young people who pursue their interests and professional passions in science, education and culture with commitment and motivation.

In 2022, the Claussen Simon Foundation will celebrate its 40th anniversary: since its establishment, the foundation has awarded 40 million euros in funding - 30 million euros of which in the last decade alone. Since then, around 2,000 young people have pursued their school, academic and artistic education with scholarships from the Claussen Simon Foundation, and around 10,000 young people have been supported in scientific, educational and cultural initiatives.