Thilo has been a prolific touring and recording pianist, keyboard instrument player, and sound designer for over a decade now. Raised in a classical music environment in Bremen, Germany, he broadened his horizons early on by moving to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, as a teenager—an experience that profoundly shaped his musical sensibilities and sparked a curiosity for cross-cultural expression.

He later pursued studies in jazz piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (Austria) and the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), under the mentorship of Olaf Polziehn, Anders Jormin, and Tord Gustavsen. As a (co-)leader, he has released six albums, contributed to numerous others, and performed in 19 countries across a wide range of settings and stages.

After relocating to Berlin in 2021, Thilo immersed himself in the city’s expansive art scene, embracing a broader vision of sound art and forging interdisciplinary collaborations. His ongoing work with dancer and choreographer Clarissa Rêgo has deeply influenced his approach to composition and performance. Collaborative projects with LILAMORS, Uli Rennert and Sound Pollution Eclectic further reflect his interest in blending traditional music with contemporary sound practices.

In 2023, Thilo returned to Graz, where he set up a permanent creative working environment (Atelier für Musik und Klangkunst) with the support of KUNSTRAUM STEIERMARK. In 2026, he enrolled in the artistic doctorate program of Kunstuniversität Graz to further deepen his exploration of extended sound(s) in improvised music and interdisciplinary contexts.

A believer in the value and potential of community, he is also a co-leader and artistic director of Jazzwerkstatt Graz, a long-standing collective and organizer of three major events for young progressive improvised music from Austria and beyond.

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“highly talented, extraordinarily sensitive …
simply one of Germany’s best at the piano”
Concerto