„Zacharias (...) is a curious composer and arranger that thinks outside the box. He also reveals a strong sense for different musical styles through a repertoire where composed music is easily integrated with improvised music. (…) [We are] positively surprised by the distinct and genuine structure of [Zacharias’] compositions. In his work for bigger ensembles he plays with surprising combinations of instruments and his works show undeniable expertise without being too academical. Besides the high level of craftsmanship Zacharias also exposes a broad and very formative conceptual range of sounds.“

 

Composer, conductor, enfant terrible! Zacharias S. Falkenberg is not only a versatile composer covering genres such as classical music, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Avantgarde and Punk, which he combines with great audacity, but is also a fierce bandleader and orchestral conductor doing things against the grain. He is quoted as an „undeniable expert“ with a „high level of craftsmanship“ by Grammy- Award winning conductor Jules Buckley and „unconventional“, „exciting“ and „brilliantly successful in a field where a lot of other composers failed“ by various press.

 

As a composer & conductor he stood on stages like the Elbphilharmonie, Tivoli/Vredenburg, Gaudeamus Festival NL, LantarenVenster, XJAZZ and Reeperbahnfestival. In recent times he is known for his collaboration as conductor and artistic direction for ÄTNA feat. NDR Bigband, also working with Henrik Schwarz for the projects Plunderphonia, CCMYK and Duo II with Bugge Wesseltoft. Together with Soundwalk Collective he co-wrote the soundtrack for academy-award winning director Laura Poitras' movie All the beauty and the bloodshed. Other projects include his artrock band Them Caged Dogs.