(I just received this sad news from STEIM).

Michel Waisvisz died peacefully in his home on Wednesday June 18 after fighting the mean cells in his body for the last eight months.

Michel Waisvisz was born on the 8th of July 1949 and lead STEIM as Director for 27 years. He left us on a day when artists and friends from around the world gathered downstairs (at STEIM) to perform for a full-house season-closing concert.

Michel was a musician, visionary and occasional gardener – touched by sound and forever happy to be surprised. He was the source of an enormous surge of energy that continues to flow through STEIM into the world.

We will miss his touch, crackle, inspiration and constant improvisation of the now.

You can leave condolances at http://www.steim.org/michel/.

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It leaves me speechless and very sad. I often went (and go) to STEIM to hear new music and Michel Waisvisz simply has been a presence ever since I got interested in new electronic, improvised music. I wanted to be there on the 18th, but couldn’t. I was supposed to interview Michel for a book on STEIM one of these days. Since time was running out, it had to happen soon, as soon as possible. But he had to fight the ‘mean cells’. It was already too late. My thoughts are with his family, and all the people at STEIM.