The Schlagquartett Köln made its debut at the Witten Festival of New Chamber Music in 1989. Its adventurous repertoire covers a variety of styles and includes a broad sample of music for percussion from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Numerous concerts, radio productions, and premieres of works by composers such as Bauckholt, Dennisow, Furrer, Huber, Rihm, Schnebel, Sciarrino, Stäbler, Staub, Walter, and Witzmann testify to the ensemble’s commitment to this unusual genre for the past twenty years. The members of the quartet work closely with composers of the younger generation to solve the complex problems posed by new works by developing innovative playing techniques or building special instruments. In addition to their work with the ensemble, the individual members perform as soloists and as members of respected orchestras and chamber ensembles such as Ensemble Modern, Klangforum Wien, musikFabrik, Thürmchen Ensemble, Ascolta Ensemble, Scola Heidelberg, and Kammerensemble Neue Musik Berlin.