Improvisation in both classical and jazz styles plays an important role in Andreas Böhlen’s performing career. Andreas performs extensively throughout the world, both with his own ensembles and bands and as a sideman.

With tours including Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, USA, Japan and Australia. Radio and TV productions are available from the NDR, Deutschlandfunk, ORF (Austria), NHK (Japan) and ABC (Australia).

Andreas has been awarded numerous international prizes and has collaborated with different radio and television stations in Germany, Holland, Japan, Australia and the USA. He has been awarded prizes at 3rd International Recorder Days Engelskirchen, Vriendenkrans Concours (Amsterdam) and Van Wassenaer Concours.

Andreas was born in 1983 and grew up in Northern Germany, where he had his first recorder lessons with Adele Weikelt at the local music school in Norden. Several years later he studied with Ulrike Petritzki at the Academy of Early Music at the University of the Arts Bremen.

In 2001 Andreas commenced lessons with Günther Höller and Dorothee Oberlinger at the Conservatory in Cologne, whilst also taking private lessons with Susanna Borsch. During his studies there he was was awarded several prizes at German competitions including Jugend musiziert and Jugend Jazzt.

Between 2003 and 2007 Andreas studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Walter van Hauwe and Paul Leenhouts. He completed his Bachelor degree with distinction.

Next to the recorder, Andreas also plays jazz-saxophone. Between 2003 and 2007 he studied jazz-saxophone at the Amsterdam Conservatory with Jasper Blom, Ferdinand Povel and Dick Oatts. He has been the lead-saxophone-player in the German big band Bujazzo.

After studying musicology in Bologna, Italy between 2007 and 2008, Andreas moved to Basel, Switzerland, where he completed a Masters degree in historical improvisation under Rudolf Lutz at the Schola Cantorum with distinction.
In 2011 he finished a Masters in jazz-saxophone under Domenic Landolf at the Musikakademie Basel, Switzerland.

Andreas founded several of his own chamber music groups for early music, contemporary music and jazz, namely Theatrum Affectuum (violin, recorder, cello and harpsichord), Satyr’s Band (recorder, shawm, dulcian and organ), Andreas Böhlen Band (saxophone, guitar, bass and drums) and Crank (microtonal jazz).

Andreas teaches recorder at the University of Performing Arts Graz, Austria and at the University of the Arts Zurich, Switzerland.