Demian Kappenstein studied jazz percussion, jazz/rock/pop percussion, free improvisation and contemporary music with Prof. Günter Baby Sommer and Michael Griener at the Dresden University of Music from 2004 to 2009. From 2009-2011 he was a master student of the composer and percussionist Eric Schaefer from Berlin (graduation: master class exam) and recipient of the state scholarship of the Free State of Saxony. Kappenstein has worked with musicians such as Rolf Kühn, Giora Feidman, Markus Stockhausen, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Arve Henriksen, Louis Sclavis and Robyn Schulkowsky. In the jazz series 'Feature Ring' at the European Center for the Arts HELLERAU, he has been bringing impressive national and international artists to Dresden every month since 2007, accompanying them with his trio.

Kappenstein won the Anchor Award at the Reeperbahn Festival with his band ÄTNA, the Bremen Jazz Prize with his band Masaa, the RUTH World Music Prize, the German Record Critics' Award and the German Jazz Prize.