He made music early, playing recorder and piano and singing in the church's children's choir.
His father discouraged the idea of becoming a professional musician, and he first enrolled to study physics and astronomy.
[2] He then studied at the Musikhochschule München, conducting with Hermann Michael and Lied accompaniment with Helmut Deutsch, graduating with distinction in 1996.
He promoted there a broad range of works including contemporary operas such as Barber's Vanessa[4] and crossover projects.
[5] He conducted the world premiere of a youth opera in 2017, Tschick, after the novel and 2011 play by Wolfgang Herrndorf, with music by Ludger Vollmer [de].