Reentko
Guitarist • Composer • Performer
“Reentko tells us stories in his music –
stories of places distant as well as those deep within us.
And he is an outstanding storyteller.”
YO YO MA
Reentko Dirks is a guitarist, composer and producer who has worked with prestigious ensembles and renowned artists throughout the world. He has written pieces for Cirque du Soleil and Semperoper Dresden, taken to the stage alongside stars including Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Bruns, Ben Becker and accordion virtuoso Ksenija Sidorova, and been invited to perform at legendary venues such as Carnegie Hall, 92Y (both New York), the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall (Moscow). From 2012 to 2015 he performed with and went on to compose for Giora Feidman. He also composes film music, his most recent project being the Czech blockbuster “Nationalstraße” (based on the bestseller by Jaroslav Rudiš; music composed in collaboration with pianist Clemens Christian Pötzsch).
Reentko has been a member of the European Guitar Quartet since 2012 and joined Masaa – winner of the German Jazz Award 2021.
In 2021 he and Turkish guitarist Erkin Cavus released their highly anticipated new album “Istanbul 1900”, which was even able to enter the charts in some countries.
Inspired by his intensive study of not only flamenco but also non-European and particularly Arabian music, Reentko’s unorthodox playing style blends a variety of genres, cultures and timbres to create an unconventional sound that has earned him multiple international prizes.
Reentko Dirks (born 1979 in Bad Gandersheim) studied Acoustic Guitar under Professor Thomas Fellow at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden before himself taking a teaching role at the school. He has initiated and participated in a broad range of artistic projects, with prize-winning examples including guitar duo “Dirks und Wirtz” (2006 European Guitar Award) and “Annamateur und Außensaiter” (2008 German Cabaret Prize). His role in the Grimme Prize-nominated television programme “Zärtlichkeiten im Bus” involved collaborations with leading pop acts such as Bosse, Max Mutzke, Samy Deluxe, Yvonne Catterfeld, Enno Bunger and Andreas Bourani.
Reentko and the drummer and percussionist Demian Kappenstein have made their sing-along format “Betreutes Singen” (literally “Sheltered Singing”) a sell-out success at the Scheune club in Dresden. Since 2020 their infectious live show has been a regular feature of the city’s major season of open-air cultural events “Filmnächte am Elbufer”. It is the perfect opportunity for Reentko to showcase his encyclopaedic musical knowledge, and in particular his ability to immediately break into any song from throughout the history of rock and pop.
Reentko is a D’Addario artist.
Reentko Dirks arbeitete als Gitarrist, Komponist und Produzent mit renommierten Institutionen und Künstlern weltweit, so dem Cirque du Soleil oder der Semperoper Dresden, spielte mit Größen wie YoYo Ma, Peter Bruns, Ben Becker oder der Akkordeonistin Ksenija Sidorova und war eingeladen in legendäre Spielstätten wie die Carnegie Hall, das 92Y in New York, Concertgebouw Amsterdam oder die Tschaikowsky Hall in Moskau.
Von 2012-2015 engagierte ihn Giora Feidman als Musiker und schließlich als Komponisten für sein Ensemble.
Zudem schreibt er Filmmusik, zuletzt für den tschechischen Blockbuster “Nationalstraße” (nach dem Besteller von Jaroslav Rudiš, mit dem Pianisten Clemens Christian Pötzsch).
Seit 2012 ist er Teil des European Guitar Quartet und seit 2019 Mitglied des Ensembles Masaa, welches 2021 mit dem Deutschen Jazzpreis ausgezeichnet wurde.
Das 2021 veröffentlichte Album “Istanbul 1900” mit dem türkischen Gitarristen Erkin Cavus erhielt in der Presse überragende Kritiken und platzierte sich in einigen Ländern sogar in den Charts.
Seine unorthodoxe Spieltechnik, inspiriert durch die intensive Auseinandersetzung mit Flamenco und außereuropäischer, insbesondere arabischer Musik, verbindet verschiedene Genres und Klangkulturen zu einem unkonventionellen Sound, der vielfach mit Preisen bedacht wurde.
Reentko Dirks (geb. 1979 Bad Gandersheim) studierte in Dresden bei Prof. Thomas Fellow „Acoustic Guitar” und blieb der Musikhochschule als Dozent verbunden. Er initiierte und begleitete zahlreiche, teils preisgekrönte Projekte gemeinsam mit Künstlerkollegen, so das Gitarrenduo „Dirks und Wirtz“ (2006 European Guitar Award) oder “Annamateur und Außensaiter” (2008 Deutscher Kleinkunstpreis). Für das Grimme-Preis nominierte TV-Format “Zärtlichkeiten im Bus” arbeitete er mit namhaften Pop-Acts wie Enno Bunger, Samy Deluxe, Bosse, Max Mutzke oder Andreas Bourani.
Als Dresdner Publikumsmagnet etablierte sich das Event-Format „Betreutes Singen” (mit dem Schlagzeuger und Percussionisten Demian Kappenstein). Seit 2020 wurde es als regelmäßiger Live- Act ins Programm der Filmnächte am Elbufer aufgenommen. Hierbei kommt Reentkos enzyklopädisches Musikwissen zum Tragen, da er die gesamte Rock/Pop- Geschichte auf Zuruf spielen kann.
Reentko ist D´Addario Artist.
“Reentko tells us stories in his music – stories of places distant as well as those deep within us. And he is an outstanding storyteller.”
YO YO MA
Bio
Reentko Dirks is a guitarist, composer and producer who has worked with prestigious ensembles and renowned artists throughout the world. He has written pieces for Cirque du Soleil and Semperoper Dresden, taken to the stage alongside stars including Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Bruns, Ben Becker and accordion virtuoso Ksenija Sidorova, and been invited to perform at legendary venues such as Carnegie Hall, 92Y (both New York), the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall (Moscow). From 2012 to 2015 he performed with and went on to compose for Giora Feidman. He also composes film music, his most recent project being the Czech blockbuster “Nationalstraße” (based on the bestseller by Jaroslav Rudiš; music composed in collaboration with pianist Clemens Christian Pötzsch).
Reentko has been a member of the European Guitar Quartet since 2012 and joined Masaa – winner of the German Jazz Award 2021.
In 2021 he and Turkish guitarist Erkin Cavus released their highly anticipated new album “Istanbul 1900”, which was even able to enter the charts in some countries.
Inspired by his intensive study of not only flamenco but also non-European and particularly Arabian music, Reentko’s unorthodox playing style blends a variety of genres, cultures and timbres to create an unconventional sound that has earned him multiple international prizes.
Reentko Dirks (born 1979 in Bad Gandersheim) studied Acoustic Guitar under Professor Thomas Fellow at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden before himself taking a teaching role at the school. He has initiated and participated in a broad range of artistic projects, with prize-winning examples including guitar duo “Dirks und Wirtz” (2006 European Guitar Award) and “Annamateur und Außensaiter” (2008 German Cabaret Prize). His role in the Grimme Prize-nominated television programme “Zärtlichkeiten im Bus” involved collaborations with leading pop acts such as Bosse, Max Mutzke, Samy Deluxe, Yvonne Catterfeld, Enno Bunger and Andreas Bourani.
Reentko and the drummer and percussionist Demian Kappenstein have made their sing-along format “Betreutes Singen” (literally “Sheltered Singing”) a sell-out success at the Scheune club in Dresden. Since 2020 their infectious live show has been a regular feature of the city’s major season of open-air cultural events “Filmnächte am Elbufer”. It is the perfect opportunity for Reentko to showcase his encyclopaedic musical knowledge, and in particular his ability to immediately break into any song from throughout the history of rock and pop.
Reentko is a D’Addario artist.
Chicago Tribune
Al di meola
Reentko is a wonderful musician, and a real joy to anyone given the opportunity to engage in a musical project with him. His creativity and range of expression are highly inspirational and captivating.For me, however, it is the remarkable way in which he strikes a perfect balance between action and reaction that is of particular note. He always gives himself completely to the achievement of this balance, yet never loses track of the intentions of the ensemble members around him. And such an ability is rare, very rare.
Thomas Fellow
CONCERTS
15.4. Dresden, Kino Schauburg – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
4.5. Bernau (mit Clemens Christian Poetzsch und Thomas Rühmann)
13.5. Dresden, Kino Schauburg – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
22.5. Dresden, Geh8 (mit Erkin Cavus)
25.5. Idar-Oberstein, festival (mit Clemens Christian Poetzsch)
28.5. Athen – (GRE) (mit Masaa)
10.6. Dresden, Kino Schauburg – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
11.6. Berlin, Kino Colosseum – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
24.6. Erfurt, Barfüßerruine – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
28.6. Greiz, Theater (mit Clemens Christian Poetzsch und Thomas Rühmann)
1.7. Freiberg – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
7.7. Eschen (LIE) Ligita (mit European Guitar Quartet)
15.7.Petrer (ES) (mit European Guitar Quartet)
7.8. Dresden, Filmnächste am Elbufer – S!NG – die große Mitsingrevue (mit Demian Kappenstein, Falk Töpfer und der TamTam Combony)
13.8. Berlin, Kino Colosseum – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
14.8.Cottbus – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
20.8. Alexandria (EGY) (mit Masaa)
29.8. Göttingen, Nikolausberger Musiktage/Klosterkirche (mit Erkin Cavus)
17.9. Berlin, Kino Colosseum – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
24.9. Decin (CZ) (mit European Guitar Quartet)
17.10. Nürnberg, Gitarrennacht (solo)
23.-26.10. Oderaue, Theater am Rand (mit Clemens Christian Poetzsch und Thomas Rühmann)
29.10. Berlin, Kino Colosseum – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
1.11. Copenhagen (DEN) (mit European Guitar Quartet)
14. 11. Saalfeld (mit Masaa)
15. 11. Celle (mit Masaa)
19.11. Berlin, Kino Colosseum – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
28.11. Lutherstadt Eisleben, privat (mit Sönke Meinen)
29.11. Bad Gandersheim, Weltbühne Heckenbeck (mit Sönke Meinen)
6.12. Hamburg, Gitarrentage (mit Sönke Meinen)
7.12. Lüneburg , Wasserturm (mit Sönke Meinen)
17.12. Berlin, Kino Colosseum – Das Betreute Singen (mit Demian Kappenstein)
18.-21.12. Oderaue, Theater am Rand (mit Clemens Christian Poetzsch, Kathleen Gaube, Jens-Uwe Bogadtke und Thomas Rühmann)
22.12. Dresden, Kulturpalast – Das Betreute Singen ON ICE (mit Demian Kappenstein)
