Dennis Grasmik
What particularly fascinates you about music? The emotions. For me, music possesses the fascinating power to evoke emotions through sound and vibrations, and to change me and the people around me. I find it fascinating how deeply this universal language resides within us all and how we can engage in a special exchange through it. Everyone in the room—and of course the musicians themselves—is connected in that moment: They communicate, listen, tell stories, and trust each other in a special way.
Which musician has personally influenced you the most so far? Matthias Nadolny has probably influenced me the most. He shaped me not only musically but also as a person. His advice and wisdom — both in music and in life — continue to guide me to this day. Not a day goes by that I don't think about our lessons together.
What I remember most vividly is playing music together: him at the piano, me on the saxophone—and, as a special highlight, the moments when he himself picked up the saxophone and played right in front of me.
His sound, his way of playing, and his way of talking about music and life have profoundly influenced me. I wouldn't be where I am today without Matthias.
Which band/soloists have you always wanted to be on stage with? I would love to share the stage with Jordan Rakei. His music awakens a new voice within me and challenges me to explore new artistic avenues. I want to follow this impulse and give the saxophone a different, perhaps unfamiliar, role.
What is your life like outside of music? I place great value on a healthy balance in my life. Staying connected with family and friends is especially important to me, as is spending time in good company. At the same time, I enjoy spending time in nature and capturing impressions through photography. Sports are also an integral part of my life. However, my most important principle is always: La Calma.
Dennis Grasmik, born in 2000, is a tenor saxophonist from Essen. Since 2021, he has been studying Jazz | Performing Artist at the Folkwang University of the Arts. During his studies, he has worked with various instructors, with Matthias Nadolny having a particularly lasting influence on his musical development. He is currently studying with Sebastian Gille. His training is complemented by a wide range of workshops and projects, including collaborations with international jazz greats such as Kurt Rosenwinkel. Until early 2026, he led "Dennis Grasmik's Jazz Painters," a group inspired by the great Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In 2024, the project received an award from the Werner Richard – Dr. Carl Dörken Foundation. The band performed on numerous stages, including the Jazzschmiede Düsseldorf, and focused primarily on original compositions. Dennis Grasmik gained formative musical and personal experiences through his involvement with the North Rhine-Westphalia Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Schönebeck Youth Wind Orchestra. With these ensembles, he performed at festivals, in concert halls such as the Essen Philharmonic, and at schools. Both memberships ended in 2025. At the age of 14, Dennis Grasmik discovered the saxophone as a means of expression. He took his first musical steps on the alto saxophone, performing primarily classical music in school concerts. However, an early interest in improvised musical forms became apparent. This gradually developed into an intensive engagement with jazz, whose creative freedom captivated him. Consequently, he eventually switched to the tenor saxophone, which now forms the core of his artistic work. Alongside this, he acquired extensive knowledge of music theory, primarily through self-study.
CURRICULUM VITAE
30 November 1999 . Born in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia
MUSICAL BACKGROUND
Since August 2016 . Piano lessons
Since 2018 . Involvement in various projects at the Folkwang University of the Arts (UdK)
Since 2020 . Clarinet and flute lessons
2024 – 2025 . Member of the NRW Youth Jazz Orchestra
September 2024 . Scholarship holder of the Werner Richard – Dr Carl Dörken Foundation
2023 to 2026 . Bandleader of his own jazz quintet (Dennis Grasmiks Jazz Painters)
2015–2025 . Member of the Schönebeck Youth Wind Orchestra (D1 and D2 music examinations, with distinction)
2014 – 2018 . Saxophone lessons, participation in aural training and theory courses, as well as the Folkwang Music School Big Band
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
08.2010 – 05.2018 . Borbeck Grammar School in Essen (A-levels, final grade 1.9)
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
approx. May 2026 . Lecturer in the team at the Jazz Workshop Solingen
since 2025 . Member of the Jazz Department Council at the Folkwang University of the Arts
Oct 2021 – approx. Sep 2026 . Bachelor of Music | Jazz Performing Artist – Jazz Saxophone at the Folkwang University of the Arts
Since 2019 . Advising prospective students (support within the UDE Talent Scouting programme)
Oct 2018 – Sep 2021 . Bachelor’s degree in teaching at grammar schools and comprehensive schools at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) and Folkwang University of the Arts, specialising in English and Music
Since September 2019 . Freelance work as a saxophone teacher at the Friedrich-Rückert-Gymnasium, Düsseldorf
May 2017 – September 2018 . Volunteer pianist at a care home for the elderly
April 2016 – February 2019 . Volunteer reading mentor at a nursery
since December 2015 . Volunteering at the annual school Christmas concerts
