Haenisch studied musicology and literary studies at Technische Universität and Freie Universität Berlin, and completed his studies with a master’s thesis on the aesthetic perception of sound and performance in the work of John Cage. During his doctoral studies Haenisch carried out ethnographic fieldwork in the Berlin scene of improvised and experimental music, investigating the micro-sociology of musical interaction particularly with regards to the technology and corporeality of performance practice. His research interests concern topics at the interface of anthropology, sociology and epistemology of music, performance and material culture studies, and music technology and digitization.

From 2011 to 2017 he worked as a research and teaching associate at the University of Potsdam, where he taught performance studies, popular music studies, music sociology, and 20th and 21th century music history. In addition, he was a member of the BMBF-promoted research association “Transform – Educational process in performative projects” (University of Potsdam, Braunschweig University of Art). He is also the founder and leader of the interdisciplinary research project “Improvising Knowledge“ (University of Potsdam, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), where he investigates collaborative knowledge creation in communities of musical practice.

Since 2015 Matthias is Co-Curator of LABOR SONOR Festival for transdisciplinary research in the arts. Furthermore, he has been working as a freelance saxophonist for several years, as well as a project manager in the cultural events industry in Berlin.