Tina Ternes was born in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on August 15, 1969. She showed musical talent quite early, which was encouraged by means of piano lessons starting when she was 7 years old. Later, she also learned to play the double-bass, and at the same time began systematic studies of music theory. Until 1993 she studied school music at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, and complemented her main studies with film music studies at Wiesbaden-based Music Academy (1992-1994 with Hubert Minkenberg). After that, she was granted a traineeship at a teacher training course in Bad Kreuznach. In 1996 she worked temporarily as a grammar school music teacher in Munich, and since September 1996 she has worked as a teacher at Kastellaun comprehensive school.
So far, her compositions include songs, piano pieces, chamber music and orchestral works. However, she sees her main interest in film music and music theater. For example, she wrote the music for the short film ‘Steinregen’ (rain of stones) directed by Ralf Schöneberg, as well as the complete theater music for Friedrich Dürrematt’s piece ‘Romulus the Great’.
Tina Ternes writes tonal compositions, and as a composer she deliberately tries to create a link between her works and musical practice. Even though she has a liking for instrumental effects, she still bears in mind the vocabulary of the instruments she uses. Often, Tina Ternes experiments with traditional forms and principles of composition and she has a talent for filling them with musical wit.
