Gaia Squarci

Ichi Go and Aimée Niemann Verklartenacht at Spectrum, NYC 2019                    Photo: Gaia Squarci

Aimée Niemann is a violinist and improviser who investigates sound through its intersection with movement. Steeped in the world of experimental music, dance, and theatre they compose graphic scores that are used as structures for interdisciplinary invention and the unearthing of new sounds.

 

Niemann is the founding member of Du.0 (do-point-oh), a New York City-based violin duo that specialises in contemporary and noise-based music. Formed in 2015 the ensemble “[shines] in moments of deep listening” (I Care if You Listen). The duo premiered three new works by composers Leah Asher, Emily Praetorius, and Scott Wollschleger in 2020 and have their debut album forthcoming. Alongside violinist Marija Kovačević, Niemann released a four part record with their duo BUKA, spanning the seasons pre and post pandemic (G.P Stripes Recordings). Aimée plays often with the Jessica Pavone String Ensemble and appears on Pavone's two most recent albums, Lull (Chaikin Records) and Of Late (Astral Spirits). Aimée is honored to have played on the premiere performance and recording of Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti’s work with eyes the color of time, which was named as a finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Music (String Orchestra of Brooklyn, New Focus Recordings). Other notable collaborations include with composers Aleksandra Vrebalov, Alvin Lucier, Anthony Coleman, Christian Wolff, Lucie Vítková, Matt Smiley, and Paul Elwood.

 

From an early age Aimée’s role as an artist moved fluidly between music, movement, and other mediums. Since moving to New York City in 2013, they have worked extensively with dancers, visual artists, and in theatres to challenge the traditional role of the “violinist”. Niemann has created large-scale multimedia installations with Cecila Biagini (AC Institute) and Marija Kovačević (Racer Sessions). They have co-produced works with choreographers Nadia Khayrallah, Whitney Janis, Abby Marchesseault, and Ichi Go. Their live scores have been featured in experimental theatre works by Polina Ionina (The How Theatre) and Dimitri Barcomi (Section 175). Notable performances of their work have taken place at the 14th Street Y, Little Island Festival of Music and Dance, Queens College Arts Festival, Exponential Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as well as in countless DIY venues and self made spaces across the country.

 

Niemann has toured internationally and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, National Sawdust, (Le) Poisson Rouge, and Roulette Intermedium. They have been an artist in residence at the West Street School House (2019, 2022), The Next Festival of Emerging Artists (2018), and have received grants from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (2022) and The New York Foundation for the Arts (City Arts Corps, 2021).

 

A passionate educator, Niemann teaches violin and chamber music at Third Street Music School Settlement in Manhattan and founded the school’s Creative Sound Lab course. Niemann has been on the faculty at New York University, The String Quartet Program of Northern Colorado, and as a visiting artist at Mahidol University in Bangkok,Thailand. Aimée teaches graphic score and improvisation workshops to youth in New York City and has trained more than 50 teachers to use a method called Creative Ability Development (CAD), which incorporates improvisation practices into traditional and Suzuki focused music classrooms. 

 

Niemann studied at the University of Northern Colorado (B.M.) and New York University (M.M.). Their mentors include Anne Leilehua Lanziotti (Pulitzer finalist, 2022), Kikuei Ikeda (Tokyo String Quartet) and Alice Kanack (founder of CAD). Originally from the prairies of Colorado, they currently live in Queens, New York.