Moritz Spieß Percussionist

Moritz Spieß – Percussionist & Session Musician Moritz Spieß (*October 27, 1999, 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. As an active member of the State Youth Jazz Orchestras of Hesse ("Kicks & Sticks") and Rhineland-Palatinate ("Phoenix Foundation"), Spieß has performed on numerous national and international stages, including South Korea, the USA, the Rheingau Music Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival, and the HR Broadcasting Hall in Frankfurt. Spieß has worked 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 such as Michael Küttner, Klaus Graf, Tobias Weidinger, Lars Reichow, KayeRee, and Carina Zimmert. In addition to his concert activities, Spieß is active as a freelance session musician, participates in masterclasses and workshops, and teaches young musicians himself. 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 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, Beyerdynamic, and Rohema.