Born in Düsseldorf in 1963, Orm Finnendahl studied Composition, Musicology and Computer Music in Berlin after some involvement in the Berlin experimental music scene. 1988/89 scholarship at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. 1995-98 continuing studies with Helmut Lachenmann in Stuttgart. Collaborations with ensembles specializing on contemporary music (Ensemble Modern, recherche, mosaik, Champ d'action, etc.) as well as with video and multi media artists, dancers and soloists (Palindrome, AlienNation, Burkhard Beins, etc.). Numerous awards and prizes, among them Kompositionspreis Stuttgart, Busoni Prize Berlin, CYNETart Award Dresden and Prix Ars Electronica Linz. A portrait CD for the "Edition Zeitgenössische Musik" has been released at WERGO Records.

Currently Orm Finnendahl is Professor of Composition and Head of the Electronic Studio at the Musikhochschule Freiburg.