„A remarkable artist!"
JAZZTHING, Rolf Thomas
„Anna Maria Schuller shows courage and taste, while using the whole spectrum of vocal jazz.“ JAZZPODIUM Jörg Konrad
„A vocal chameleon creating colors by inflection alone... Breathtaking!“
CRITICALJAZZ.COM Brent Black
ABOUT
Anna Maria Schuller is a singer, songwriter, arranger, vocal coach and choir leader.
She lives as a freelance musician in Cologne and teaches at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt.
Grown up in Bavaria, close to Nueremberg, she started her musical path in several choirs and with piano lessons. Followed by an education in singing and on church organ, she moved to a secondary school with a focus on music. Afterwards she studied jazz singing at the Hochschule für Musik Wuerzburg and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she graduated successfully in 2010. Meanwhile the mezzo soprano was a member of the Bundesjazzorchester. With the Amsterdam based Anna Maria Schuller 4tet she toured through Germany and The Netherlands. Later she went to New York for a few weeks of private studies. With her Cologne based quintet Ana Mai she released her debut album “Blossom” in 2013. Next to a few duo concerts with Philipp Braemswig on guitar and a more traditional repertoire, she developed a program together with dancer and choreographer Romy Schwarzer that connects contemporary dance, performance and voice. Then she focused on teaching and choirs, combined with further education in vocal technique, vocal arranging, choir leading, electronics and performance. For two years she was the musical director of Songrise Jazzchor Erftstadt (“Meisterchor” in Chorverband NRW) and was coaching ensembles and groups – also including inclusive aspects.
With her solo-project she is now concentrating on her own artistic and creative work.
PROJECTS
Anna Maria Schuller Solo "Perspectives"
#popjazz #singersongwriter
The solo-programm „Perspectives“ by the Cologne based singer Anna Maria Schuller is dealing with social and sociocritical topics and offers different point of views and impulses.
Together with her longtime wish to do a solo-record, she wrote eleven pieces in about six month and released them in November 2022. Inspired by singer-songwriters, contemporary jazz and choir music, she also incorporated elements of exhibitions, documentaries, literature and conversations.
The songs are about the climate crisis, racism, the continuing discrimination of women, homelessness, addiction, the significance of beauty and style, illusions, communication and the connection with yourself and others.
The compositions combine expressiv melodies, harmonic finesses and lively rhythms. The empathic lyrics are straight forward. The multifarious use of the voice is accompanied on piano, by rhodes- and synthesizer-sounds and a few effects. There also are short a cappella tunes, which were developed on loopstation.
A pure and colorful audio experience that resonates.
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ANA MAI „Blossom“
2011-2015
ANNA MARIA SCHULLER vocals, composition
STEFAN KARL SCHMID saxophone, clarinet
PHILIPP BRAEMSWIG guitar
MATTHIAS AKEO NOWAK double bass
OLIVER REHMANN drums
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Ana Mai and „Blossom“ create an atmospheric indie jazz between melancholy and a new start. In her songs Anna Maria Schuller tells from the peculiarities of life. She portrays places, relations and emotions, which have a certain impression, but don’t last forever (the album title “Blossom” is inspired by the Hermann Hesse's poem “Stufen“). „Neuland“ deals with new beginnings, „The aspiration of a stone“ with desire, „Rest your mind“ is about letting go and „Dream Variations“ a poem by Langston Hughes. „Grey Men“, „What it time“ and „Children Song“ belong to a 3-part cycle about time, based on Michael Ende’s fairy tale “Momo”. The band combines lyrical themes with lively instrumental jazz and contrasts open sound collages with driving grooves.
JAZZTHING „This album is grand“ Rolf Thomas (02/14)
STEREOPLAY CD tip 8/10 stars (02/14)
KULTURNEWS.DE CD tip 5/6 stars (12/13)
SWR 2 CD of the week
MELODIVA.DE CD tip (02/14)
THE FINAL BEST OF 2013 LIST ON WWW.CRITICALJAZZ.COM
Neuklang Records, 2013
Order via annamaria.schuller(at)gmx.de
Appearances a.o. Kölner Musiknacht, JazzTube-Festival Bonn, Jazzschmiede Düsseldorf, Jazzclub Lindau, Cave 61 e.V. Heilbronn, IG-Jazz Klappmuehl' Mannheim, Kulturverein KiCK Hersbruck, DB Museum Nürnberg, Studio 672 Köln, artheater Köln, Bürgerhaus Altensteig
TANZ & STIMME Duo „Raumsinn trifft Lichtzeit“
2012-2013
ROMY SCHWARZER contemporary dance, concept, performance
ANNA MARIA SCHULLER voice, composition, performance
2012 residence of the Michael Douglas Collective with performances at the Arkadas Theater Cologne and ,Quartiert am Hafen‘
2013 Tanzwoche Dresden
https://www.romyschwarzer.net/raumsinntrifftlichtzeit
DUO ANNA MARIA SCHULLER & PHILIPP BRAEMSWIG (git)
2011-2016
ANNA MARIA SCHULLER 4TET
Amsterdam 2008-2010
ANNA MARIA SCHULLER vocals, composition, arrangement
CHRISTIAN PABST piano
JOAO HASSELBERG double bass
ANDREAS KLEIN drums
„An eclectic bliss for the listener” HERSBRUCKER ZEITUNG, Anselm Stieber (05/10)
Appearances a.o. Jazzahead Bremen, Jazznachwuchsfestival St. Moritzbastei Leipzig, TUFA Trier, Bimhuis Amsterdam, Jazzclub Bamberg, DB Museum Nürnberg, Theater fiftyfifty Erlangen, Startbahn Jazz Straubing, Dizzy Rotterdam, St. Klarakirche Nürnberg, MUZ Nürnberg, bflat Berlin, Badcuyp Amsterdam, Loft Nürnberg
COACHING
I work as a freelance vocal coach and choir leader (jazz/pop), offer privat lessons and coachings for singers, choirs, vocal ensembles as well as educational programs and workshops.
For requests, further details or questions please contact me via annamaria.schuller(at)gmx.de
LESSONS
We all have an individual voice, which means the way of learning and teaching is individual, too. Next to the skills of singing and making music, I deeply support the wishes, needs and strengths of every single student/client.
For reaching personal goals, it is an important part to trust, be curious and have courage.
”How to practise” is an essential element, which means to find a way, a routine and to go for it.
OFFER
Lessons à 45min / 60min / 90min
In Cologne, Erftstadt, on the way and online via Zoom
All levels: Beginners, advanced, professionals
As preparation for entrance examinations, competitions and castings
SUBJECTS
Voice technique
Repertoire jazz/pop (various styles)
Articulation, interpretation, phrasing
Rhythm & Groove (incl. timing)
Improvisation (scat singing, adlibs, ornamentals)
Microphone technique, effects, loopstation
Performance and stage presence
Stage anxiety (mental training, bodywork)
Piano for song accompaniment
Songwriting, arranging
Music theorie, ear training, harmonics
Creativity, motivation, profil formation
CHOIRS, ENSEMBLES, WORKSHOPS
OFFER
Choir and ensemble coachings à 60min / 90min / 120 min, for a day or weekend
Workshops and courses in small groupsOnline via Zoom
SUBJECTS
Voice technique
Repertoire jazz/pop (a capella / accompaniet)
Timbre, intonation, blending
Rhythm & Groove
Phrasing
Articulation, pronunciation
Interpretation
Performance, stage presence, staging
Songwriting and arranging in a group
Ear training, harmonics
Profil formation
REFERENCES
Coachings: Digital EUROTREFF (Internationales Kinder- und Jugendchor-Festival des AMJ), Chorverband NRW, Internationaler Chor der Universität Bonn, d’acCHORd, fränk'n feel (Pop und Jazz Auswahlchor FSB), Akademie Off-Theater NRW, Jazzclub Trier Osterworkshop, various a cappella ensembles (quartet, quintet, nonet), social programs and group lessons
Choirs: Songrise Jazzchor Erftstadt e.V., Musikschule Euskirchen (children choir, gospel choir, female and mixed popchoir), Octett Eumotions