Carolina Eyck

Carolina Eyck
Eyck playing the theremin
Eyck playing the theremin
Background information
Born (1987-12-26) 26 December 1987
Near Berlin, Germany
GenresClassical, electronic, contemporary classical
OccupationsMusician, composer, author, mentor
InstrumentsTheremin, viola, piano, vocals
Websitecarolinaeyck.com

Carolina Eyck (born 26 December 1987) is a German-Sorb[1] musician, composer, author and mentor who specialises in playing the theremin.

Biography

Eyck was born in 1987, near Berlin, Germany. She is a member of the Sorbian community of East Germany.[2]

Eyck began learning piano aged five and violin aged six.[2] She was introduced to the theremin at the age of seven by her parents, and started getting lessons with Lydia Kavina, a niece of Leon Theremin, the inventor of the instrument.[3][4]

Eyck studied music at a school for musically gifted children Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. In this time she performed with, among others, the Deutsche Streicherphilharmonie.[2]

In 2007 Eyck moved to Sweden to study viola at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. After three years of study under Henrik Frendin, she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in the instrument in 2010.

Career

Eyck made her debut as a thereminist in the Berliner Philharmonie in 2002, when she was 14 years old.[5][6]

"8 finger position technique" invented by Eyck

At the age of 16, Eyck invented a new and precise way to play the theremin, called the "8 finger position technique". With this new technique the player is able to tune the electromagnetic field of the theremin to their hand and rely on their finger positions, rather than correcting notes after they are audible.[3][7] In 2006, aged 18, she published a book The Art of Playing the Theremin in English and German, in which she explains this method, that is now being used by thereminists around the world.[8][9][10][11]

Eyck has featured in several Lera Auerbach's compositions and ballets, such as Icarus, which she performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in 2010, Cinderella, which she performed at the Finnish National Ballet in 2011,[12] and The Little Mermaid, which she played as a guest musician of the Hamburg Ballet touring Japan in 2009 and San Francisco Ballet Orchestra in 2010.[13] In 2017 Eyck premiered some of Auerbach's Preludes for Theremin and Piano in Cuba.[14]

In 2011 Andrew Norman wrote Eyck a theremin Concerto Air which she performed with the Heidelberg Philharmonic Orchestra in the same year.[3] In 2012, Eyck played the theremin solo at the world premiere of the two symphonies Mesopotamia and Universe by Fazıl Say.[15]

Finnish composer Kalevi Aho dedicated the theremin concerto Eight Seasons to her, which she performed for the first time in Rovaniemi in October 2012 with the Lapland Chamber Orchestra.[16][17] The recording of the concerto won an Echo Klassik in the category "Concert Recording of the Year" in 2015.[18] The concerto has since been revisited by Eyck with different orchestras, including Argentine National Symphony Orchestra in Buenos Aires (2017), Württembergische Philharmonie in Reutlingen (2021), and most notably the BBC Philharmonic with direction by John Storgårds at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2022.[19][20]

Since 2013, Eyck has collaborated and performed with pianist and composer Christopher Tarnow, resulting two first ever sonatas written for theremin and piano, 1st Theremin Sonata (2013) and 2nd Theremin Sonata (2014) as well as albums Improvisations for Theremin and Piano (2014) and Theremin Sonatas (2015). Together they have played at festivals Festival Mitte Europa and the Caramoor Summer Music Festival in New York, as well concert halls such as Centro Gabriela Mistral in Santiago (2016), Teatro Filodrammatici in Milan (2019), and Centro Botín in Santander, Spain (2025).[21][22][23]

In 2018, theremin concerto Dancefloor with Pulsing by French composer Régis Campo was written for Eyck and premiered with the Brussels Philharmonic.[24][25] She has since performed it with various orchestras including Frankfurt Radio Symphony in 2020,[26] Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in Tallinn (2024),[27] WDR Funkhausorchester in Cologne (2024),[28] Orchestre National de France in Paris (2024) with direction by Cristian Măcelaru,[29] and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in 2025.[30]

In 2019 Eyck premiered Sirens, a concerto for theremin and orchestra composed by Dalit Warshaw, with Boston Modern Orchestra Project and conducted by Gil Rose.[31][32]

Eyck first travelled to Australia in January 2017 to perform classical music, including Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, with pianist Jennifer Marten-Smith and Midnight Oil's guitarist Jim Moginie at the Mona Foma in Hobart, Tasmania.[33] In May 2025 Eyck embarked on her first national tour in Australia Theremin & Beyond with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and pianist Tamara-Anna Cislowska.[34] Composer Holly Harrison was commissioned to write a new piece of music as part of the orchestra's 50th Anniversary celebrations, resulting in Hovercraft for Theremin and Chamber Orchestra.[35]

Eyck's cross-genre collaborations include working and performing with Gotye, Jeff Mills,[36] Samy Deluxe[26][37] and Steve Vai.[38]

Teaching

In 2010 Eyck started as the artistic director of various Theremin Academies. She has conducted workshops, lectures and master classes in Germany, France, Sweden, Poland, Great Britain, the United States of America, Mexico and Japan, expanding on the ideas of her original invention of the "8 finger position technique", building on its foundations and defining and researching new vocabulary for students and professionals. Eyck has also published tutorial videos online in multiple languages.[39]

In 2018, she gave a TEDx Talk about the symbiosis of self-control and freedom while playing the theremin.[40]

Composer

Eyck playing on the music video "Elliptic Orbit"

Eyck has been composing her own music throughout her career. Her work spans from orchestral compositions such as award-winning Sciciani (2006), Remembrance (2020) and Ocean Light (2025) to more experimental electronic sounds resulting in albums Waves (2019) and Thetis 2086 (2022), the latter being constructed in 3D sound and presented in Dolby Atmos.[41]

In 2016, Eyck began touring her solo Theremin & Voice program, where she uses a surround sound system to fill the performance space with loops and layers developed on stage. The style of the performance balances between minimal and progressive electronic music.[42] Eyck's original compositions and improvisations led to albums Elephant in Green (2019) and Elegies for Theremin & Voice (2019).

Since 2023 Eyck has become immersed in the world of film scoring, where she uses theremin, electronics, voice and viola as her mediums. She has written the score for Confessions of a Good Samaritan (2023, Netflix)[43] and Wild Inside (in production for HBO) by Penny Lane.[44]

Honors and awards

Eyck received the first prize in the prestigious German youth composition competition Jugend komponiert in 2005 with the composition Physikalische Formeln.

In 2006 Eyck won the first prize with an orchestral composition Sciciani for accordion in the International Competition for Composers, presented by Radio/TV Berlin-Brandenburg, a prestigious competition for young composers.[45][46]

In 2015, Eyck received the German Echo Klassik in the category "Concert Recording of the Year (20th/21st century music)" for playing the Theremin Concerto Eight Seasons by Kalevi Aho, conducted by John Storgårds and played with the Lapland Chamber Orchestra.[1][18]

Compositions

  • Sciciani—Am wendischen Burgwall, Pictures for Accordion and Strings, world premiere 16 September 2006 by the Cottbus Philharmonic Orchestra directed by GMD Reinhard Petersen, Soloist: Aidar Gainullin (Moskau)—Bajan[45]
  • CIANI—Am wendischen Burgwall, Pictures for Theremin and Orchestra, world premiere 4 February 2007 by the orchestra of the Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (specialized high school for musicians) in the French Cathedral, Berlin[47]
  • Sonina for theremin and harp (2008)
  • Sauselei, duet for viola and voice (2010)
  • Syllableaves, concerto for theremin and orchestra, world premiere 24 April 2010 by the Gävle Symphony Orchestra directed by Fredrik Burstedt at the Konzerthaus Gävle (Sweden)[48]
  • Elefant in Green for theremin and voice (2010)
  • Maskenreich for theremin and organ (2013)
  • Song for Birds for theremin and Jazz Band (2015)
  • Fantasias for theremin and string quartet (2015)
  • Soliloquy for theremin and voice (2016)
  • Delphic for theremin and voice (2017)
  • Reja for theremin and voice (2018)
  • Eternity for theremin and voice (2018)
  • On Wings of Light and Time for theremin, voice and electronics (2019)
  • Northern Lights for theremin and electronics (2020)
  • Remembrance for theremin and orchestra (2020)
  • Elliptic Orbit for theremin and elektronics (2021)
  • Midnight Theremin for theremin and Loop Station (2022)
  • Frozen Reflections for theremin and delay (2025)
  • Ocean Light for theremin and orchestra (2025)

Discography

Albums

  • Theremin (2008, Servi)
  • Kalevi Aho (2013, BIS) with Annu Salminen, John Storgård, and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra
  • Improvisations for Theremin and Piano (2014, Butterscotch Records) with Christopher Tarnow
  • Theremin Sonatas (2015, Genuin) with Christopher Tarnow
  • Fantasias for Theremin and String Quartet (2016, Butterscotch Records)
  • Waves (2019, yeyeh) with Eversines
  • Elegies for Theremin & Voice (2019, Butterscotch Records)
  • Thetis 2086 (2022, Neue Meister)

Singles and EPs

  • Reja (2018, self-release)
  • Elephant in Green (2019, self-release)
  • Northern Lights (2020, self-release)
  • Re: Riverine (2024, Neue Meister) with Clemens Christian Poetzsch and Reentko Dirks

Guest contributions

  • Oboe Fantasy by Heinz Holliger (2005, medici arts)
  • Dante's Dream (2009, Kick The Flame) – track "Episodes"
  • The Little Mermaid (2011, BFMI) – as the voice of the mermaid using theremin
  • Cellosophy (2012, Timezone) – track "King of Atlantis"
  • Mesopotamia & Universe by Fazıl Say (2013, Imaj)
  • The Invention of Love (Die Erfindung der Liebe) film score by Maciej Sledziecki (2013)
  • Clownwise (Klauni) film score by Petr Ostrouchov (2013, Fog'n'Desire Films)
  • Yeni Şarkılar by Fazıl Say (2015, Ada Music) – tracks 1, 2, and 4
  • About April by Friend 'n Fellow (2015, Doctor Heart Music) – track "April"
  • Hochkultur Vinyl Abo by Samy Deluxe (2023, Vertigo Berlin) – track "Yves Klein"
  • Sirens by Dalit Hadass Warshaw (2025, BMOP/sound)
  • Chopin Residue by Mariusz Szypura (2025, Black Element Label) – track 5 "Prelude Op. 28, No. 4"

Books

  • Carolina Eyck: The Art of Playing the Theremin ISBN 3-933757-08-8; German: Die Kunst des Thereminspiels ISBN 3-933757-07-X. Both: SERVI Verlag, Berlin 2006

References

  1. ^ a b "Sorbische Musikerin Carolina Eyck bekommt Echo Klassik-Preis". Focus. 10 October 2015. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c James Manheim. Carolina Eyck at AllMusic
  3. ^ a b c "Biography". Carolina Eyck. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  4. ^ Walchshäusl, Dorothea (July 2015). "Luft plus Liebe gleich Musik". Cicero. 7: 124.
  5. ^ "Carolina Eyck" (in German). Stuttgarter Philharmoniker. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  6. ^ Riepe, Claus (2022). "Das Theremin – Musik liegt in der Luft". OKEY. 167: 52–57.
  7. ^ "15 questions | Interview | Carolina Eyck | True to the Senses". www.15questions.net. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  8. ^ "The Art of Playing the Theremin ", book details, SERVI Publishers
  9. ^ "Carolina Eyck". Wicked Artists. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  10. ^ Nepilova, Hannah (6 July 2022). "Musician Carolina Eyck: 'You can pull out emotions only possible on the theremin'". Financial Times.
  11. ^ "The theremin: The strangest instrument ever invented?". www.bbc.com. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  12. ^ Kivimäki, Oona (1 November 2011). "Theremin on soiva ufolaatikko". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  13. ^ Fleischer, Bernhard. "BFMI Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images". www.bfmi.at. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Músico y compositora alemano-serbia ofrece concierto en Cuba". La Demajagua (in European Spanish). 17 October 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  15. ^ "The Premiere (and The Politics) of Fazıl Say's New Symphony". Seenandheard-international.com. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  16. ^ "News – Fennica Gehrman". Fennicagehrman.fi. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  17. ^ Nissinen, Hanna (10 October 2012). "Harvinaista koko maailmassa. Kantaesitys: Kalevi Aho sävelsi konserton thereminille ja kamariorkesterille". Kulttuuri. Lapin Kansa. pp. 12–13.
  18. ^ a b "The recording of Kalevi Aho's theremin and horn concertos won the ECHO Klassik award". Musicfinland.com. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  19. ^ Ashley, Tim (5 August 2022). "Prom 25: BBCPhil/Storgårds/Eyck review – Aho's theremin casts a spell". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  20. ^ "La Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional en el CCK". www.cultura.gob.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  21. ^ Busse, Holger (25 September 2014). "News: Carolina Eyck und Christopher Tarnow produzieren Theremin-Klavier-CD". www.genuin.de (in German). Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  22. ^ maestrobeats (29 December 2014). "Album of the Week: Improvisations for Theremin and Piano". Second Inversion. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  23. ^ "Past events". Carolina Eyck. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  24. ^ "régis campo: dancefloor with pulsing". Brussels Philharmonic. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Brussels Philharmonic plays Zorn, Zappa, Campo & Constant (Openingsconcert)". Arsmusica.be. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  26. ^ a b hr-Sinfonieorchester (23 February 2020). "Music Discovery Project 2020". hr-sinfonieorchester.de (in German). Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  27. ^ "Calendar of music events | Estonian Music Information Centre". www.emic.ee. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  28. ^ "lit.Cologne – Funkhaus Galactica". WDR Nachrichten (in German). 4 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  29. ^ "Festival Présences 2024 #7 | Maison de la radio et de la Musique". Maison de la radio (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  30. ^ "Schöne Töne Live – 24.10.2025 – Philharmonie Berlin – DSO Berlin" (in German). Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  31. ^ "Boston Classical Review » Blog Archive » Oooh-weee-oooh: BMOP opens season with premiere of theremin concerto". bostonclassicalreview.com. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  32. ^ "Dalit Hadass Warshaw: Sirens, by Boston Modern Orchestra Project". Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  33. ^ Shaun Prescott (23 January 2017). "Mona Foma: how a summer festival swamped me with ominous foreboding". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  34. ^
  35. ^ "How to Write Music for the Theremin". Australian Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  36. ^ "Deep Thinkers – Jeff Mills The Outer Limits". NTS Radio. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  37. ^ Samy Deluxe – Hochkultur Vinyl Abo, 10 November 2023, retrieved 1 December 2025
  38. ^ "Recap: Steve Vai's Big Mama Jama Jamathon at MI's Live House in Hollywood". Musicians Institute. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  39. ^ "Video Tutorials". Carolina Eyck. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  40. ^ Eyck, Carolina (12 September 2018). Carolina Eyck and her theremin. Retrieved 1 December 2025 – via www.ted.com.
  41. ^ "Theremin Music". Carolina Eyck. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  42. ^ "Theremin and Voice". Carolina Eyck. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  43. ^ Saito, Stephen (11 March 2023). "Confessions of a Good Samaritan – SXSW 2023 Film Review". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  44. ^ "Wild Inside". Sandbox Films. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  45. ^ a b "Internationaler Kompositionswettbewerb des RBB" (in German). Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB). 11 July 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  46. ^ "Sound Room XIV". Th1rdspac3.com. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  47. ^ "Caroline Eyck ist neue Spezialistin fürs Theremin". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). 7 February 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  48. ^ "Instrumentet som var före sin tid". Arbetarbladet (in Swedish). 25 April 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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