Moritz Spieß Percussionist

Moritz Spieß – Percussionist & Session Musician Moritz Spieß (born October 27, 1999, in Nastätten) is a German percussionist distinguished by his versatility in jazz, pop, and world music. He is currently studying with Alfonso Garrido at the Cologne University of Music and Dance and previously studied with Prof. Jose Cortijo and Prof. Alberto Garcia at the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts. As an active member of the Hessian State Youth Jazz Orchestra ("Kicks & Sticks") and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Youth Jazz Orchestra ("Phoenix Foundation"), Spieß has performed on numerous national and international stages, including in South Korea, the USA, at the Rheingau Music Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival, and the HR Broadcasting Hall in Frankfurt. Spieß has collaborated with renowned international artists such as Jiggs Whigham, Nils Landgren, Wolfgang Haffner, Till Brönner, Max Mutzke, Laith Al-Deen, Andrea Motis, Mark Gross (USA), and Prof. Dennis Montgomery III, as well as with nationally established musicians like Michael Küttner, Klaus Graf, Tobias Weidinger, Lars Reichow, KayeRee, and Carina Zimmert. In addition to his concert performances, Spieß is active as a freelance session musician, participates in masterclasses and workshops, and teaches young musicians. He has received numerous awards, including a scholarship to Berklee College of Music (2025), the Best Rhythm Section Award at the Rimea Annual Jazz Band Festival, Rhode Island (2024), and the Lions Club Wiesbaden Mattiacum Advancement Award (2021). His artistic work is characterized by precision, expressiveness, and a creative approach to a wide variety of percussion instruments – from congas and bongos to drum sets and world percussion. Spieß is supported by Meinl and Rohema.