Tam Thi Pham (b. 1990) is a Vietnamese multimedia composer, improviser, and performer based in Hamburg, Germany. By merging technology and tradition, poetics and politics, and the sonic and visual realms, Pham creates an integrated mode of expression where music and performance are indivisible parts.
Pham has delved into the unique sounds and extended techniques of the dan bau, a traditional Vietnamese instrument, incorporating them into free improvisation and composition. She is also a dan bau teacher at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, inspiring her students to explore the instrument’s vast expressive potential. Her artistic journey is a quest to explore individuality while seeking connection with the broader social environment.
“Experimentation allows me to push the boundaries of what music can be, creating a dynamic and ever-evolving artistic practice,” Pham explains. This approach drives her to continuously innovate and explore new sonic landscapes.
Her works have been featured at festivals in Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Hungary, Germany, France, and Serbia, demonstrating the wide-reaching appeal of her innovative compositions.
Tam Thi Pham (b. 1990) is a Vietnamese multimedia composer, improviser, and performer currently based in Hamburg, Germany. Ms. Pham holds a Bachelor’s degree in Musicology from the Vietnam National Academy of Music. She earned a Master’s degree in Multimedia Composition studying with professors such as Prof. Dr. Georg Hajdu, Prof. Dr. Gordon Kampe and Prof. Dr. Alexander Schubert. at Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hamburg.
Over the years, Tam has carved out a unique space for herself in the contemporary music world. Her work as a composer is all about pushing the boundaries—she loves discovering new sounds, experimenting with different forms of expression, and delving into the performative aspects of music. Central to her work are discovering the unique sounds and extended techniques of the dan bau, a traditional Vietnamese instrument incorporated into her compositions and improvisations. As a Dan Bau lecturer at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, she encourages her students to explore the instrument’s vast expressive potential.
Her artistic journey is a profound investigation of individuality and its ties to social contexts. Through her engagement with microtonal music, Tam reinterprets traditional Vietnamese sounds within modern frameworks, blending cultural heritage with contemporary innovation.
Tam is also recognized for her interdisciplinary collaborations, especially with choreographers and dancers from Japan, Vietnam, Germany, and beyond. She integrates technology into both live and networked performances, crafting dynamic experiences where music, movement, and technology intersect in fresh and exciting ways.
In addition to her creative endeavors, Tam actively organizes discussions, concerts, and events centered around contemporary music and art, significantly enriching the cultural landscapes of Hanoi and Hamburg. Her initiatives have cultivated vibrant artistic communities in both cities.
Throughout her career, Tam has been awarded several prestigious scholarships and residencies that have influenced her artistic development. In 2016, she received an artist scholarship from the Goethe-Institut, followed by selection for the FAMLAB Residency under the British Council’s Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth Project in 2018. In 2020, she was invited as a guest artist to the TPAM Festival in Japan, hosted by the Japan Foundation. Most recently, in 2022, she was granted a scholarship from the Leistungsstipendium der Behörde für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Gleichstellung during her master’s program.
Looking ahead, Pham continues to push the boundaries of her work, with several exciting projects on the horizon that promise to further explore the intersection of music, technology, and cultural expression.
