Joachim F.W. Schneider studied with Heinz Winbeck at the University of Music Würzburg, He has received many national and international awards, including 1st Prize in the II. International Uuno Klami Composition Competition, the Bayerischer Staatsförderpreis, given by the German Federal State of Bavaria, and the European Composer’s Award.

His works have been performed by prestigious soloists, ensembles and orchestras (such as Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Kymi Sinfonietta, Münchener Kammerorchester and Ensemble Modern) and have been played in Europe, USA and Canada. He worked with conductors such as Kent Nagano, John Storgårds, Yasuo Shinozaki, Alexander Liebreich and Jonathan Stockhammer.

Schneider’s compositions include works for string quartet, orchestra and choir as well as piano, guitar and solo tuba. His music is complex and multilayered, he uses all possible ways of expression and techniques of the instruments involved. This variety is brought together into an own and original aestheticism which is dense in colour and time.

Schneider has taught at the University of Music Würzburg since 1998. He gives lessons in music theory to advanced placement students, and he works in the new Würzburger Institut für Neue Musik und Gegenwartsmusik (WING) at the academy.