Stefan Koim studied classical guitar and historical plucked instruments in Cologne, Salzburg, Boston, and Würzburg, where his teachers included Hubert Käppel, Eliot Fisk, Jürgen Ruck, and Thomas Boysen. In 2017, he completed hisKonzertexamenwith distinction. His musical education was further enriched by studies at prestigious institutions such as the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena and the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, as well as regular masterclasses with renowned artists including Konrad Junghänel, Jakob Lindberg, Carlo Marchione, Roberto Aussel, Pavel Steidl, Manuel Barrueco, and Oscar Ghiglia.

A prizewinner at numerous national and international competitions, Stefan Koim is especially acclaimed for his expertise in early music. He performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician with leading ensembles such as Ensemble Cembaless and Concerto Köln. His artistic collaborations include work with internationally renowned musicians like Midori Seiler, Erik Bosgraaf, and Max Volbers. A recent highlight was his recording of Antonio Vivaldi’sThe Four Seasonsin a version for violin and lute/baroque guitar, with violinist Shunske Sato, produced by Tonebase.

Koim’s artistic identity is further shaped by his strong commitment to contemporary music. He frequently works with both emerging and established composers, including Helmut Lachenmann and George Benjamin, creating a dynamic dialogue between historical performance practice and modern repertoire. Passionate about expanding the boundaries of the concert experience, he continuously seeks out new repertoire and explores innovative concert formats.

Thanks to his versatility, Koim is also in high demand for opera productions and chamber music collaborations, with appearances at venues such as the Philharmonie Luxembourg, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, and Gürzenich Orchester Cologne. Career highlights include performances at St. Paul's Church Frankfurt, the Philharmonie Essen, the Kölner Philharmonie, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht, Jordan Hall in Boston, CSO Ada in Ankara, the Handel House in Halle, the International Handel Festival in Göttingen, Wiener Saal Salzburg, Glazunov Hall of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, the Gnesin Music Academy in Moscow, and Harvard University in Cambridge. In late 2024, he made his acclaimed solo debut at the Shanghai Concert Hall.

Stefan Koim has been supported by distinguished institutions including the Fulbright Commission, Rotary Foundation, DAAD, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes). His artistic work is documented in numerous CD and radio productions (SR, SWR, Deutschlandfunk Kultur), and his solo and chamber music recordings on labels such as Musicaphon and Naxos have been highly praised by the specialist press and nominated for major awards including the Opus Klassik and the German Record Critics’ Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik). He currently serves as Head of the Guitar Department at the Institute for Musicology and Music Education at the University of Osnabrück.