1983: First piano lessons with his mother, Olga Janke
1989-1998: Education at the "Helmholtz-Gymnasium," Karlsruhe
1990-1995: Classical percussion lessons at the "Badisches Konservatorium Karlsruhe" with Manfred Rohrer; music theory lessons with Dr.Claus Canisius; yearly award for best achievements
1993-1994: Municipal scholarship of the city of Karlsruhe for supporting the education of highly gifted pupils
since 1993: Concerts, radio-and TV recordings in Germany and abroad, f.e.: France, USA, Poland, Russia, Slowenia, Czech Republik, Belgium, The Netherlands, Kazakhstan;
Participated in numerous masterclasses / pivate lessons for drums and percussion, f.e.: with Jim Chapin, Dave Weckl, Ed Thigpen, Pete York, Luis Conte, Peter Erskine, Chad Wackerman, Famoudou Konate, Wolfgang Haffner, Johnny Raab, Mike Shapiro
1994-1995: saxophone lessons at the "Badisches Konservatorium Karlsruhe" with Laszlo Wolpert
1995-1998: drum lessons with Johannes Fries, Frank Hemmerlé, Andy Schulz
1998-2004: Jazz music studies at the Academy of Music of Cologne, drum lessons with prof. Michael Küttner, occasionally with prof. Keith Copeland; graduation "with distinction"
1999-2000: Jazz-vibraphone lessons with prof. Tom van der Geld
2000: Percussion lessons with Alfonso Garrido
Participated in the Federal Youth Jazz Orchestra of Germany, the "BuJazzO", as a percussionist, conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer
2000-2004: recording and touring with the band "Didgerission", 2 CD productions
2001-2002: teacher for drums and percussion at the music school "Music Today" in Mönchengladbach
2003-2004: Participated in the German TV show "TV Total" (with Stefan Raab, Pro7) as a percussionist
since 2003: Organizer of the live-music dance party "free.dance.party" in Cologne
since 2004: Jazz-composition- and arranging studies at the Academy of Music of Cologne with Frank Reinshagen
since 2004: Master´s program at "The City College of New York," major in jazz/drums; teachers: Ari Hoenig, John Patitucci
Musical cooperation Ack van Royen (The Netherlands), Carlos del Junco (Canada), Claudio Puntin, Peter Fessler, Peter Lehel, Heiner Wyberny (WDR Bigband), Kristjan Randalu (Estonia), Alfonso Garrido (Chile), Siiri Sisask (Estonia), Tata Dindin (Mosambique), Thomas Anders ("Modern Talking"), Clueso, Sigfried Köpf, Schäl Sick Brass Band, Eddi Tschokoly (Congo) Prizes / Awards
1992: Second prize at the "Federal German Youth Competition," ("Jugend Musiziert") duo category percussion/piano; at later competitions 3 first and 2 second prizes
1996: 2 first prizes at the "Federal German Youth Jazz Contest," ("Jugend Jazzt") both with drums and marimbaphone
1997: Winner of the "Biberach Jazz Contest," category jazz trio
1997: Prize-winner at the 19. international "Europ´Jazz Contest," Brussels/Belgium
1998: Winner of the 1. international "Drummers´ Newcomer Festival," Aschaffenburg/Germany; category solo drums
2000: Winner of the "Best European Musicians Contest," Lahnstein/Germany; category solo drums
2001: Winner of the "Fortissimo Music Support," Cologne/Germany with the band "L.deKay"
2002: First prize at the "World Samba Festival," Amsterdam/The Netherlands; category "Bateria" (drumsection) with the Maracatú group "Nacao Colonia"
2003: Winner of the "Fortissimo Music Support," with the band "Didgerission"
2004: Scholarship of the GermanAcademicExchang eProgram ("DAAD") for studying in New York/USA
