poet, musician, journalist
Switzerland
He was born in 1950 in Staad canton St. Gallen) near the Lake Constance (Bodensee). He studied Philosophy and German Literature at the University of Freiburg (Switzerland).
Erwin Messmer graduated from the University as the instructor of piano and organ playing in the Academy of Music of Freiburg. He continued to perfect his skills of playing in the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava as he received a support from the Federal Cultural Department.
Nowadays Erwin Messmer teaches in the academy of music of Freiburg and play the organ in the Reformative Church Bern-Bümpliz. He played on tour in the numerous European countries, South America and New Zealand. He made different records on the tadio DRS, Slovakian radio and Slovakian TV, and also CD-records sum up his musical work.
His poetry was published in the big literary magazines and Erwin published seven poetry collections. His first poetry collection „Gschlaik und Gschtelaasch“ in St. Galler dialect (with audio-CD) appeared in autumn 2010, publisher Drey-Verlag.
In Spring 2012 the publisher Edition 8 will present his new poetry collection „Klartext zum Wasserglas“ in Zurich.
Erwin works as editor of the literary magazine “Оrte“ and as non-staff correspondent of the magazine „Du. Die Zeitschrift die Kultur“. He performed in the poetical recitations in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Romania.
Erwin Messmer is a member of the hanging committee of the Swiss Poetical Competition of “Heinz and Hannelise Weder Foundation“.
