Composers FORUM
OVERVIEW
The Composers Forum is geared towards individuals who are pursuing the craft of composition and receiving professional performances of their works, attending masterclasses, and immersing themselves in the compositional world of Vienna, Austria and all that it has to offer. Interested participants can apply to one of two categories: Instrumental Composition and Opera Composition. Each admitted composers will receive a performance of their new work.
Previous editions: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 (canceled) | 2021 (canceled)
INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION
Dates: June 26 - July 10
A major highlight of this festival is our participants having their music performed by world class contemporary performers such as PHACE, Irvine Arditti, icarus Quartet, and loadbang.
Composition students will take private composition lessons with Viennese and international composers and attend lectures/masterclasses on contemporary music and advanced theory topics.
Amongst the guest faculty, prominent composers such as Lei Liang, Pierluigi Billone, Beat Furrer, Oliver Weber, Ulrich Drechsler, Reinhard Fuchs, Clemens Gadenstätter, and other visiting guests will join the festival.
Participants will be given a choice amongst our three guest ensembles, who will perform one piece. The instrumentation icarus Quartet consists of two pianists and two percussionists. PHACE, a professional contemporary music ensemble residing in Vienna, offers any combination of instruments including: flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. All ensembles will perform the new pieces at the VSMF: Contemporary Music Concerts.
Students will also work with Irvine Arditti, from the Arditti Quartet, who will workshop and record selected student pieces for solo violin or string quartet.
TUITION: €3750
Includes: housing, private lessons, facilities, faculty, masterclasses, visiting guests, cultural excursions, ensemble hires
CURRICULUM
Private Lessons
Composition students will receive private composition lessons with prominent Viennese composers. All participants will work on a project that will be developed during their stay in Vienna and presented for a discussion amongst their peers and faculty.
Rehearsals
Composers are obliged to attend all rehearsals of their compositions and are expected to work closely with the ensemble and music director in order to ensure a successful performance of their work.
Masterclasses
Composers will have the opportunity to have their works critiqued by visiting guest artists. Master Classes will be conducted with visiting guest artists and are open to all festival participants to observe.
Seminars
Seminars will be given by our visiting guest faculty on their particular area of research and will consist of advanced topics in composition and compositional processes chosen by the professors.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
VSMF Provides professional opportunities for all admitted participants
PHACE
Contemporary Music Ensemble
Participants of the Instrumental Composition Program will have their music performed by PHACE. PHACE is a premiere contemporary music ensemble who performs around the world and regularly commissions leading composers. You can learn more about PHACE here.
loadbang
Contemporary Music Ensemble
We are happy to announce that loadbang will join our program in 2022! Participants of the Instrumental Composition Program will have their music performed by loadbang. New York City-based new music chamber group loadbang is building a new kind of music for mixed ensemble of trumpet, trombone, bass clarinet, and baritone voice. Learn more here.
icarus Quartet
Contemporary Music Ensemble
Like the mythological figure from which it draws its name, the half piano/half percussion icarus Quartet dares to fly towards the sun, aspiring to new heights of artistry. Following their Carnegie Hall debut, composer Paul Lansky simply remarked, “This is music making of the highest order.” You can learn more about icarus Quartet here.
The PolyMuse Orchestra
Contemporary Chamber Orchestra
On the one hand, the PolyMuse Orchestra has committed itself to supporting young international musicians in order to be able to establish themselves on the Austrian music market, and on the other hand to enriching and further developing the current, classical Viennese concert world. It offers an annual concert program with a good mix of well-known classical as well as unknown and contemporary works. The repertoire ranges from works of the early baroque to the latest symphonic miniatures and major opera cycles and is constantly being seasonally designed in cooperation with well-known soloists.
Irvine Arditti
Work with the legendary Irvine Arditti of the Arditti Quartet
The VSMF is proud to have Irvine Arditti, founder of the contemporary string quartet Arditti Quartet join the faculty. Mr. Arditti will perform and record works for solo violin. Participants of the Instrumental Composition Program will have access to this opportunity. Please click here to watch Irvine Arditti's interview given during our 2018 edition.
Meet the VSMF Composition Faculty
Our world-class faculty have major careers working as composers and performers championing new music
Irvine Arditti
In addition to his legendary career as first violinist of the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has also given life to many solo works. Born in London in 1953, Irvine Arditti began his studies at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 16. He joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1976 and after two years, at the age of 25, became its Co-Concert Master. He left the orchestra in 1980 in order to devote more time to the Arditti Quartet which he had formed while still a student.
Irvine Arditti has given the world premières of a plethora of large scale works especially written for him. These include Xenakis' Dox Orkh and Hosokawa's Landscape III, both for violin and orchestra, as well as Ferneyhough's Terrain, Francesconi's Riti Neurali and Body Electric, Dillon's Vernal Showers and Harvey's Scena, Paredes Señales, Pauset's Vita Nova, Reynolds Aspiration and Sciarrino's Le Stagioni Artificiali all for violin and ensemble.
He has appeared with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles including the Asko Ensemble, Avanti, Bayerische Rundfunk, BBC Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Ensemble Contrechamps, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, London Sinfonietta, Orchestre National de Paris, Het Residentie den Hague, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Nieuw Ensemble, Nouvel Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, Philharmonia orchestra, Schoenberg Ensemble, Ensemble Signal. His performances of many concertos have won acclaim by their composers, in particular Ligeti and Dutilleux.
As well as having recorded over 200 CDs with the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has built an impressive catalogue of solo recordings. His CD of solo violin works by composers such as Carter, Estrada, Ferneyhough and Donatoni, as well as his recording of Nono's La Lontananza, both on the label Montaigne Auvidis, have been awarded numerous prizes. His recording of Cage's Freeman Etudes for solo violin, as part of his complete Cage violin music series for American label Mode, has made musical history. The complete Mode recordings of Berio's Sequenza's, on which Irvine recorded the violin sequenza won the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis in 2007, and was awarded best contemporary music release by the Italian music magazine Amadeus in 2008. The violin concertos by Berio, Xenakis and Mira, recorded in Moscow with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, are featured on a disc by Swedish label Bis. Recently released on the Mode label was Paredes Señales with Ensemble Signal conducted by Brad Lubman.
In November 2017 Irvine was presented in Paris with Charles Cros Grand Prix in honorem, a lifetime achievement award recognizing the sum total of his career and his exceptional role in the service of music. The prize was also for his latest solo recital CD release called Caprices with music by Boulez, Carter, Nunes and Sciarrino on the Aeon label. A double CD of the music of Roger Reynolds has just been released on the Kairos label.
Irvine Arditti's arrangement for Quartet of Cage's 44 Harmonies from Apartment House can be found on Mode Records and is published by Edition Peters in New York.
On 7th October as part of an Arditti feature at the Festival D'Automne in the Maison de la Radio in Paris there was a performance of Ferneyhough's Unsichtbare Farben for solo violin and Terrain for violin and ensemble with Ensemble Modern under Brad Lubman.
On 8th Novemberat the University of Buffalo there was the first complete performance of Felder's Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Linea under Jean-Paul Wurtz.
On 22nd November at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Irvine performed Paredes's Violin concerto Señales with the London Sinfonietta under Martyn Brabbins.
On 8th February 2018, there was a performance of Cattaneo's violin concerto in an early evening concert (18.00) at the Royal Festival Hall, London with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roland Kluttig. Also Sciarrino's 6 Caprici for solo violin was performed.
In early June Irvine returned again to the Festival June in Buffalo, where he was in residence for one week. He performed a recital with the pre-premiere of Thomalla's Air. Solo pieces by Nunes and Paredes were also heard, as well as a performance of Reynolds Shifting/Drifting with computer musician Paul Hembree
On 9th June there was a performance of Felder's recent violin concerto Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Signal under Brad Lubman.
Thomalla's Air was heard again in Darmstadt on22nd July.
On29th July there was a performance of Nono's La Lontananza at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena
On10th August there was a performance of Xenakis's Dikhthas in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires with the pianist Nicolas Hodges.
On 13th October there was a performance at the Open Music Festival in Forli, Italy with Nunes Einspielung and Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices.
On 22nd October at the Dialog series in the Gare du Nord in Basle there will be a concert with music by Dillon, Nunes, Thomalla and Xenakis.
On 23rd November in the Konzerthaus in Vienna there will be a late night recital containing Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices and a new work by James Clarke called 2017-V
In July 2013, The Techniques of Violin Playing, a book by Arditti and the composer Robert Platz was released by Barenreiter Edition.
Irvine Arditti has given the world premières of a plethora of large scale works especially written for him. These include Xenakis' Dox Orkh and Hosokawa's Landscape III, both for violin and orchestra, as well as Ferneyhough's Terrain, Francesconi's Riti Neurali and Body Electric, Dillon's Vernal Showers and Harvey's Scena, Paredes Señales, Pauset's Vita Nova, Reynolds Aspiration and Sciarrino's Le Stagioni Artificiali all for violin and ensemble.
He has appeared with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles including the Asko Ensemble, Avanti, Bayerische Rundfunk, BBC Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Ensemble Contrechamps, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, London Sinfonietta, Orchestre National de Paris, Het Residentie den Hague, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Nieuw Ensemble, Nouvel Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, Philharmonia orchestra, Schoenberg Ensemble, Ensemble Signal. His performances of many concertos have won acclaim by their composers, in particular Ligeti and Dutilleux.
As well as having recorded over 200 CDs with the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has built an impressive catalogue of solo recordings. His CD of solo violin works by composers such as Carter, Estrada, Ferneyhough and Donatoni, as well as his recording of Nono's La Lontananza, both on the label Montaigne Auvidis, have been awarded numerous prizes. His recording of Cage's Freeman Etudes for solo violin, as part of his complete Cage violin music series for American label Mode, has made musical history. The complete Mode recordings of Berio's Sequenza's, on which Irvine recorded the violin sequenza won the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis in 2007, and was awarded best contemporary music release by the Italian music magazine Amadeus in 2008. The violin concertos by Berio, Xenakis and Mira, recorded in Moscow with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, are featured on a disc by Swedish label Bis. Recently released on the Mode label was Paredes Señales with Ensemble Signal conducted by Brad Lubman.
In November 2017 Irvine was presented in Paris with Charles Cros Grand Prix in honorem, a lifetime achievement award recognizing the sum total of his career and his exceptional role in the service of music. The prize was also for his latest solo recital CD release called Caprices with music by Boulez, Carter, Nunes and Sciarrino on the Aeon label. A double CD of the music of Roger Reynolds has just been released on the Kairos label.
Irvine Arditti's arrangement for Quartet of Cage's 44 Harmonies from Apartment House can be found on Mode Records and is published by Edition Peters in New York.
On 7th October as part of an Arditti feature at the Festival D'Automne in the Maison de la Radio in Paris there was a performance of Ferneyhough's Unsichtbare Farben for solo violin and Terrain for violin and ensemble with Ensemble Modern under Brad Lubman.
On 8th Novemberat the University of Buffalo there was the first complete performance of Felder's Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Linea under Jean-Paul Wurtz.
On 22nd November at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Irvine performed Paredes's Violin concerto Señales with the London Sinfonietta under Martyn Brabbins.
On 8th February 2018, there was a performance of Cattaneo's violin concerto in an early evening concert (18.00) at the Royal Festival Hall, London with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roland Kluttig. Also Sciarrino's 6 Caprici for solo violin was performed.
In early June Irvine returned again to the Festival June in Buffalo, where he was in residence for one week. He performed a recital with the pre-premiere of Thomalla's Air. Solo pieces by Nunes and Paredes were also heard, as well as a performance of Reynolds Shifting/Drifting with computer musician Paul Hembree
On 9th June there was a performance of Felder's recent violin concerto Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Signal under Brad Lubman.
Thomalla's Air was heard again in Darmstadt on22nd July.
On29th July there was a performance of Nono's La Lontananza at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena
On10th August there was a performance of Xenakis's Dikhthas in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires with the pianist Nicolas Hodges.
On 13th October there was a performance at the Open Music Festival in Forli, Italy with Nunes Einspielung and Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices.
On 22nd October at the Dialog series in the Gare du Nord in Basle there will be a concert with music by Dillon, Nunes, Thomalla and Xenakis.
On 23rd November in the Konzerthaus in Vienna there will be a late night recital containing Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices and a new work by James Clarke called 2017-V
In July 2013, The Techniques of Violin Playing, a book by Arditti and the composer Robert Platz was released by Barenreiter Edition.
Simeon Pironkoff
From 1985 to 1989 continuation of his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (composition with Erich Urbanner, conducting with Karl Österreicher)
From 1989 to 1992 freelance activities as conductor of numerous opera productions and collaborartion with several european operas, contemporary music ensembles and independent stages, as well as many orchestras and young symphony orchestras in Europe (performances in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria a.o.)
In 1992 he founded PHACE | contemporary music (former ensemble on_line vienna) wich became in his position as artistic director and first conductor one of the most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria today.
From 2000 to 2003 board member of the Austrian section of ISCM. During this time he established and curated the chamber music series “FOKUS” at the Alte Schmiede – Hall in Vienna. Numerous world premieres and Austrian premieres of the most important composers of the international contemporary scene had taken place during this time.
Since 1992 he is appointed to professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna at the conducting department. Since 2002 Professor in conducting.
He was present at many major festivals and venues in Austria, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan (a.o. in tge frame of “generator – series” at Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Jeunesse Festival, Klangbogen, Sofia Music Weeks, Musica Nova Sofia, March Music Days (Rousse, Bulgaria), ZeitTon Festival, Steirischer Herbst, Musikforum Viktring/Carinthia, Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Rome), Salzburg Festival, MaerzMusik Berlin, Monmartre en Europe (Paris, France), bludenzer tage zeitgemaesser musik (Bludenz, Austria), pianissimo (Sofia), WDR (Essen Philharmonie), INMM Darmstadt, ISCM World Music Days (Tokio, Hong Kong, Vienna) and many more.
As composer and as conductor he collaborated with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien , die reihe, Ensemble Wiener Collage, Newton ensemble, ensemble recherche (Freiburg, Germany), ensemble 2r2m (Paris), Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Gdansk/Poland, Orchestre Symphonique Pro Arte de Paris, Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico Città di Vicenza, Orchestra of the APA, Hong Kong, Wiener Taschenoper, among many others.
For his work he received several scholarships, promotions and prizes such as the Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis , Richard Wagner scholarship, the scholarship of the Alban Berg Foundation, the Working – Scholarship of the City of Vienna, the mention prize of the Ministry of Cultural Affaires of Austria, the Promotion Award of the City of Vienna, the Government Sholarship a.o.
He released (as composer and conductor) several CD’s with works of the XXth and XXIth century and realised many broadcast transmissions and productions for the Austrian Radio Broadcasting ORF, the Bulgarian National Radio Broadcasting, Deutschlandfunk, Radio Municipal de Buenos Aires…
He gave many guest lectures at the Institute of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Conservatorio Nacional de Buenos Aires, the Sofia State Academy of Music and INMM Darmstadt.
He published several texts in the music magazines “TON” of the Austria ISCM Section and in the editions of the Society oof Music & aesthetics (Freiburg i. d. Br.)
He is very active as a pedagogue and gives master classes in conducting in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Colombia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Italy. A large number of his students won several competitions and are nowadays active (also in leading positions) at various orchestral and opera stages in Europe and USA.
For his last CD – Production as composer skin.double he received the publicity award of SKE austro mechana.
From 1989 to 1992 freelance activities as conductor of numerous opera productions and collaborartion with several european operas, contemporary music ensembles and independent stages, as well as many orchestras and young symphony orchestras in Europe (performances in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria a.o.)
In 1992 he founded PHACE | contemporary music (former ensemble on_line vienna) wich became in his position as artistic director and first conductor one of the most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria today.
From 2000 to 2003 board member of the Austrian section of ISCM. During this time he established and curated the chamber music series “FOKUS” at the Alte Schmiede – Hall in Vienna. Numerous world premieres and Austrian premieres of the most important composers of the international contemporary scene had taken place during this time.
Since 1992 he is appointed to professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna at the conducting department. Since 2002 Professor in conducting.
He was present at many major festivals and venues in Austria, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan (a.o. in tge frame of “generator – series” at Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Jeunesse Festival, Klangbogen, Sofia Music Weeks, Musica Nova Sofia, March Music Days (Rousse, Bulgaria), ZeitTon Festival, Steirischer Herbst, Musikforum Viktring/Carinthia, Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Rome), Salzburg Festival, MaerzMusik Berlin, Monmartre en Europe (Paris, France), bludenzer tage zeitgemaesser musik (Bludenz, Austria), pianissimo (Sofia), WDR (Essen Philharmonie), INMM Darmstadt, ISCM World Music Days (Tokio, Hong Kong, Vienna) and many more.
As composer and as conductor he collaborated with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien , die reihe, Ensemble Wiener Collage, Newton ensemble, ensemble recherche (Freiburg, Germany), ensemble 2r2m (Paris), Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Gdansk/Poland, Orchestre Symphonique Pro Arte de Paris, Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico Città di Vicenza, Orchestra of the APA, Hong Kong, Wiener Taschenoper, among many others.
For his work he received several scholarships, promotions and prizes such as the Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis , Richard Wagner scholarship, the scholarship of the Alban Berg Foundation, the Working – Scholarship of the City of Vienna, the mention prize of the Ministry of Cultural Affaires of Austria, the Promotion Award of the City of Vienna, the Government Sholarship a.o.
He released (as composer and conductor) several CD’s with works of the XXth and XXIth century and realised many broadcast transmissions and productions for the Austrian Radio Broadcasting ORF, the Bulgarian National Radio Broadcasting, Deutschlandfunk, Radio Municipal de Buenos Aires…
He gave many guest lectures at the Institute of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Conservatorio Nacional de Buenos Aires, the Sofia State Academy of Music and INMM Darmstadt.
He published several texts in the music magazines “TON” of the Austria ISCM Section and in the editions of the Society oof Music & aesthetics (Freiburg i. d. Br.)
He is very active as a pedagogue and gives master classes in conducting in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Colombia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Italy. A large number of his students won several competitions and are nowadays active (also in leading positions) at various orchestral and opera stages in Europe and USA.
For his last CD – Production as composer skin.double he received the publicity award of SKE austro mechana.
Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin
Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin (*1968 in Mocsow) studied composition with Boguslaw Schaeffer and piano with Alfons Kontarsky, Dimo Dimov and Boyan Vodenitcharov at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and at the State Music Academy in Sofia.
In 2007, her violin concerto “Mahagony”, written during the stay at the artist residency MacDowell Colony, was premiered by David Bowlin in the Carnegie Hall. The Bowlin´s latest CD (2019 New York) includes two of her works.
Her orchestra piece „Annäherung“, comissioned by the Government of Salzburg was recorded by the Mozarteum Orchestra under Johannes Kalitzke and presented in the “Viva!Mozart” exhibition in Salzburg celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday. Her latest orchestra piece "TARSIS" (2019) was nominated for the Rychenberg Competition and recorded by the Musikkollegium Winterthur conducted by Pierre-Alain Monot.
Performances of Karastoyanova-Hermentin´s works have been held in the Musikverein, ACFNY, “Chamber Series” of the CSO, Merkin Concert Hall, Nordic House Torshavn, State Opera Donetsk, Parliament of Canada, Palácio da Justiça Manaus, Flagey Brussels, Megaron Athene as well as in the festivals Ultraschall Berlin, Klangspuren, Warsaw Autumn, Kyiv Music Fest. Her compositions have been interpreted by Oswald Sallaberger, David Fulmer, Nacho de Paz, Lars Mlekusch, David Bowlin, Katinka Kleijn, Jonathan Vinocour, Artem Nyzhnyk, Hayk Melikyan as well as by many ensembles including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble New York, the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra, the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Zaporozhje, PHACE, oenm Salzburg, Stadler Quartett, Wiener Collage, die Reihe, Da Capo Chamber Players.
Ms. Karastoyanova-Hermentin has received commissions from Konzerthaus Vienna, WDR, Siemens Music Foundation, ORF - the Austrian Broadcasting, Aspekte Festival. Her music has been recognized with the Austrian State Prize “Outstanding Artist Award 2013 Musik”, the State Composers Grant (2001,2006, 2010), the Promotion Prize of the City Vienna, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Grant, the Composers Grant of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, the Annual Grant of the Government of Salzburg, Theodor-Körner Award for Art and Science. She is recipient of the "Aaron Copland" fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in the USA and winner of the Young Composers Project of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Her music appears on CD labels - Capriccio, Gramola, New Focus Recordings, Austrian Broadcasting.
She has performed as a pianist both in the field of classical and contemporary music, a.o. as a soloist with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, in festivals such as Aspekte Salzburg, Hörgänge Wien (Konzerthaus Vienna), Sofia summer, Skopsko leto.
In 2007, her violin concerto “Mahagony”, written during the stay at the artist residency MacDowell Colony, was premiered by David Bowlin in the Carnegie Hall. The Bowlin´s latest CD (2019 New York) includes two of her works.
Her orchestra piece „Annäherung“, comissioned by the Government of Salzburg was recorded by the Mozarteum Orchestra under Johannes Kalitzke and presented in the “Viva!Mozart” exhibition in Salzburg celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday. Her latest orchestra piece "TARSIS" (2019) was nominated for the Rychenberg Competition and recorded by the Musikkollegium Winterthur conducted by Pierre-Alain Monot.
Performances of Karastoyanova-Hermentin´s works have been held in the Musikverein, ACFNY, “Chamber Series” of the CSO, Merkin Concert Hall, Nordic House Torshavn, State Opera Donetsk, Parliament of Canada, Palácio da Justiça Manaus, Flagey Brussels, Megaron Athene as well as in the festivals Ultraschall Berlin, Klangspuren, Warsaw Autumn, Kyiv Music Fest. Her compositions have been interpreted by Oswald Sallaberger, David Fulmer, Nacho de Paz, Lars Mlekusch, David Bowlin, Katinka Kleijn, Jonathan Vinocour, Artem Nyzhnyk, Hayk Melikyan as well as by many ensembles including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble New York, the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra, the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Zaporozhje, PHACE, oenm Salzburg, Stadler Quartett, Wiener Collage, die Reihe, Da Capo Chamber Players.
Ms. Karastoyanova-Hermentin has received commissions from Konzerthaus Vienna, WDR, Siemens Music Foundation, ORF - the Austrian Broadcasting, Aspekte Festival. Her music has been recognized with the Austrian State Prize “Outstanding Artist Award 2013 Musik”, the State Composers Grant (2001,2006, 2010), the Promotion Prize of the City Vienna, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Grant, the Composers Grant of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, the Annual Grant of the Government of Salzburg, Theodor-Körner Award for Art and Science. She is recipient of the "Aaron Copland" fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in the USA and winner of the Young Composers Project of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Her music appears on CD labels - Capriccio, Gramola, New Focus Recordings, Austrian Broadcasting.
She has performed as a pianist both in the field of classical and contemporary music, a.o. as a soloist with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, in festivals such as Aspekte Salzburg, Hörgänge Wien (Konzerthaus Vienna), Sofia summer, Skopsko leto.
Pierluigi Billone
Born in 1960 in Italy, Pierluigi Billone lives in Vienna.
He studied composition with Salvatore Sciarrino and Helmut Lachenmann.
Billone's music is regularly performed by relevant interpreters in the most reputed New Music Festivals, and broadcasted by the most important radios in and beyond Europe
His works received international awards such as the Kompositionspreis der Stadt Stuttgart (Stuttgart 1993), the Busoni-Kompositionspreis (Academy of Arts Berlin 1996) the Wiener Internationaler Kompositionspreis (Vienna 2004), the Ernst-Krenek-Preis (Vienna 2006), and the Kompositionspreis der Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung (Munich 2010).
Pierluigi Billone has been guest professor for composition at the Music University Graz, Music University Frankfurt and at the Escola Superior de Música de Barcellona.
He is regularly invited as teacher and lecturer in composition courses such as: IEMA-Ensemble Modern Akademie 2008. Harvard University 2010. Columbia University NY 2010. MCME International Academy Russland 2011. Ferienkurse Darmstadt 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. Impulse Akademie Graz 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Tzlil Meducan Israel 2011, 2014, 2015. MCIC Madrid 2015, 2016. Boston University 2015. New York University 2015. Composit-Rieti 2015, 2016, 2017. Royaumont Voix Nouvelles 2016. Kalv Academy-Sweden 2018.
The works of Pierluigi Billone appear on the Kairos, Stradivarius, Col-legno, Durian, EMSA and Ein_Klang labels.
He studied composition with Salvatore Sciarrino and Helmut Lachenmann.
Billone's music is regularly performed by relevant interpreters in the most reputed New Music Festivals, and broadcasted by the most important radios in and beyond Europe
His works received international awards such as the Kompositionspreis der Stadt Stuttgart (Stuttgart 1993), the Busoni-Kompositionspreis (Academy of Arts Berlin 1996) the Wiener Internationaler Kompositionspreis (Vienna 2004), the Ernst-Krenek-Preis (Vienna 2006), and the Kompositionspreis der Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung (Munich 2010).
Pierluigi Billone has been guest professor for composition at the Music University Graz, Music University Frankfurt and at the Escola Superior de Música de Barcellona.
He is regularly invited as teacher and lecturer in composition courses such as: IEMA-Ensemble Modern Akademie 2008. Harvard University 2010. Columbia University NY 2010. MCME International Academy Russland 2011. Ferienkurse Darmstadt 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. Impulse Akademie Graz 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Tzlil Meducan Israel 2011, 2014, 2015. MCIC Madrid 2015, 2016. Boston University 2015. New York University 2015. Composit-Rieti 2015, 2016, 2017. Royaumont Voix Nouvelles 2016. Kalv Academy-Sweden 2018.
The works of Pierluigi Billone appear on the Kairos, Stradivarius, Col-legno, Durian, EMSA and Ein_Klang labels.
Reinhard Fuchs
Reinhard Fuchs, born in 1974, first studied accordion at the Bruckner-Conservatory Linz (1991-1995). After that he completed his studies in composition with Michael Jarrell (1995 - 2002) at the University of Music in Vienna. 1997/98, Fuchs attended studies at the University of Miami in Florida. Courses with B. Ferneyhoug h, M. Stroppa, M. Lindberg, K. Huber were further important stimuli for his work.
Next to commissions of renowned ensembles and organizers, Reinhard Fuchs can also refer to numerous international prices and distinctions (1st prize at the 7th international composition competition Salzburg, the 2nd prize at "stasis et vita" / Germany, the special prize of the Foundation Royaumont / FRA, 2001 the Anton-Bruckner- Prize, 2003 austrian grant for composers).
In 1997, he founded together with colleges the composers group GEGENKLANG.
His works were performed by ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, RSO Wien, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Basel Sinfonietta, Les Percussion de Strasbourg, Arditti Quartet, Wiener Klaviertrio, Trio Amos,… & by conductors such as Johannes Kalitzke, Matthias Pintscher, Beat Furrer, Sebastian Gottschick, Fabrice Bollon, Annu Tali, Susanna Mälkki… at Festivals such as Wien Modern, Salzburger Festspiele, Musiktage Donaueschingen, Musikprotokoll at Steirischer Herbst, Hörgänge, Konzerthaus Berlin, Contemporary Music Festival Alicante, Soundings London, Warehouse London, Festival Latinoamericano de Musica (Caracas / Venezuela), New Music Festival Sound Ways (St. Petersburg / Russia), Venezuela Festival Internacional „a tempo“ (Caracas / Venezuela)...
Since 2008, Reinhard Fuchs is artistic director and general manager of PHACE (www.phace.at).
In 2014, Reinhard Fuchs receives the Erste-Bank-Composition-Prize.
Next to commissions of renowned ensembles and organizers, Reinhard Fuchs can also refer to numerous international prices and distinctions (1st prize at the 7th international composition competition Salzburg, the 2nd prize at "stasis et vita" / Germany, the special prize of the Foundation Royaumont / FRA, 2001 the Anton-Bruckner- Prize, 2003 austrian grant for composers).
In 1997, he founded together with colleges the composers group GEGENKLANG.
His works were performed by ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, RSO Wien, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Basel Sinfonietta, Les Percussion de Strasbourg, Arditti Quartet, Wiener Klaviertrio, Trio Amos,… & by conductors such as Johannes Kalitzke, Matthias Pintscher, Beat Furrer, Sebastian Gottschick, Fabrice Bollon, Annu Tali, Susanna Mälkki… at Festivals such as Wien Modern, Salzburger Festspiele, Musiktage Donaueschingen, Musikprotokoll at Steirischer Herbst, Hörgänge, Konzerthaus Berlin, Contemporary Music Festival Alicante, Soundings London, Warehouse London, Festival Latinoamericano de Musica (Caracas / Venezuela), New Music Festival Sound Ways (St. Petersburg / Russia), Venezuela Festival Internacional „a tempo“ (Caracas / Venezuela)...
Since 2008, Reinhard Fuchs is artistic director and general manager of PHACE (www.phace.at).
In 2014, Reinhard Fuchs receives the Erste-Bank-Composition-Prize.
Šimon Voseček
Šimon Voseček (13 April 1978) is an Austrian-Czech composer. He is known for his opera "Biedermann und die Brandstifter" ("Biedermann and the Arsonists", (2005-2007; 2013; 2015), which was premiered in Vienna by Neue Oper Wien in 2013).
Ulrich Drechsler
The award-winning saxophonist & bass clarinetist Ulrich Drechsler has been working as a freelance musician & composer in the field of contemporary improvised music and film music both nationally and internationally. His successful projects include the band "Café Drechsler", duets with the pianists Tord Gustavsen and Stefano Battaglia, the Ulrich Drechsler cello quartet, etc. with whom he has performed all over the world. He is under contract at the major label UNIVERSAL MUSIC as well as the renowned German jazz label ENJA YELLOWBIRD. In his workshops and courses, he places special emphasis on the support and development of the artistic individuality and authenticity of the students in addition to the instrumental aspects.
Anthony Green
The creative output of Anthony R. Green (composer, performer, social justice) includes musical and visual creations, interpretations of original, contemporary, and repertoire works, collaborations, educational outreach, and more. Behind all his artistic endeavors are the ideals of equality and freedom. His compositions and projects have been presented in 20+ countries by various internationally acclaimed soloists and ensembles, such as pianists Hayk Melikyan and Eunmi Ko, the American Composers Orchestra, the Keuris Saxophone Quartet, NOISE-BRIDGE, and Alarm Will Sound, to name a few. As a performer, he has appeared at venues across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, presenting piano and chamber music recitals, interdisciplinary and experimental performances, and lecture-recitals that fuse performance with research. Green’s most important social justice work has been with Castle of our Skins: celebrating Black Artistry through Music.
Clemens Gadenstätter
Clemens Gadenstätter, born in 1966, studied composition in Vienna and then Stuttgart under Helmut Lachenmann. He teaches at the University of Music Graz as a professor of Analysis, Music Theory, and Composition.
Gadenstätter's musical undertaking explores the compositional resynthesis of perception, sensation and feeling. For him, this should bring together the trinity of listening, comprehension, and composition.
His recent work concerns: the transformation of acoustically triggered, pre-formed feelings (in the series E.P.O.S.: les premiers cris, les cris des lumières, les derniers cris for different ensemble arrangements); the notion of the banal (in the pieces Semantical Investigations 1&2, as well as the essay "Was heißt hier banal" [What do we mean banal?]); the poly-modality of listening (in häuten, schlitzen for string quartet 1&2, ES for voice and ensemble); as well as musical iconography (in the series ICONOSONICS 1 – 3). His larger works thematize these ideas in multimedia form, such as daily transformations for voice, ensemble, electronics, text, and film, with Lisa Spalt (text) and Anna Henckel-Donnersmark (film).
Gadenstätter"s work has been commissioned by:
The Donaueschingen Festival, Musik der Jahrhunderte - Stuttgart, WDR - Witten Days for New Chamber Music, Wien Modern, ORF/RSO (The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra), Musikbiennale Berlin, Salzburg Festspiele, Musikbiennale Salzburg, Steirischer Herbst, Ultima - Oslo, and more.
Gadenstätter's musical undertaking explores the compositional resynthesis of perception, sensation and feeling. For him, this should bring together the trinity of listening, comprehension, and composition.
His recent work concerns: the transformation of acoustically triggered, pre-formed feelings (in the series E.P.O.S.: les premiers cris, les cris des lumières, les derniers cris for different ensemble arrangements); the notion of the banal (in the pieces Semantical Investigations 1&2, as well as the essay "Was heißt hier banal" [What do we mean banal?]); the poly-modality of listening (in häuten, schlitzen for string quartet 1&2, ES for voice and ensemble); as well as musical iconography (in the series ICONOSONICS 1 – 3). His larger works thematize these ideas in multimedia form, such as daily transformations for voice, ensemble, electronics, text, and film, with Lisa Spalt (text) and Anna Henckel-Donnersmark (film).
Gadenstätter"s work has been commissioned by:
The Donaueschingen Festival, Musik der Jahrhunderte - Stuttgart, WDR - Witten Days for New Chamber Music, Wien Modern, ORF/RSO (The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra), Musikbiennale Berlin, Salzburg Festspiele, Musikbiennale Salzburg, Steirischer Herbst, Ultima - Oslo, and more.
Oliver Weber
Oliver Weber studied musicology at the University of Zurich as well as organ with Janine Lehmann and private composition lessons with Rudolf Kelterborn in Basel. Following his completion of this program, he began instrumental and electroacoustic composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Michael Jarrell, Dieter Kaufmann and Wolfgang Mitterer. Since 2004, Weber regularly performs as an interpreter of his own and electronic works as well as an improviser at home and abroad including: Wien Modern, SICMF South Korea, New Music Week Shanghai, Electronic Spring Vienna, Grabenfesttage Wien, Kulturfestival Origen, Ensemble Nikel, RSO Vienna, Ensemble Phace, and many others in Europe.Weber has been comminsioned by many prestiguos organizations including: Wien Modern, sirene Operntheater, progetto semiserio, Central European Chamber Orchestra MIKAMO, Kulturfestival Origen, Duo Iridolon, Kammertonquartett, The Black Page Orchestra, Soyuz21, Lars Mlekusch, Valentin Johannes Gloor and others.
As a collaborative artist, he has work with the Aargau Kuratorium, Theodor Körner Prize, state scholarships for the composition of the Republic of Austria, several work grants from the BUKK Österreich and others. Participation in the International Young Composers Forum Brussels. 2013 Artist in Residence at the ICST in Zurich Oliver Weber lives and works professional as a composer, musician, and scholar in Vienna.
As a collaborative artist, he has work with the Aargau Kuratorium, Theodor Körner Prize, state scholarships for the composition of the Republic of Austria, several work grants from the BUKK Österreich and others. Participation in the International Young Composers Forum Brussels. 2013 Artist in Residence at the ICST in Zurich Oliver Weber lives and works professional as a composer, musician, and scholar in Vienna.
Diogo Carvalho
[program director]
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, composer Diogo Carvalho writes engaging concert music that communicates to contemporary audiences. Carvalho’s style was inspired by his electroacoustic music experience, Brazilian music background, and jazz. Carvalho has worked with the Unheard-of\\Ensemble, Bold City Contemporary Ensemble, Irvine Arditti, Boston String Quartet, Laurent Estoppey, Jeremy Huw Williams, Fonema Consort, Philipp Gerschlauer, Orquestra Jovem Tom Jobim, Hermeto Paschoal, Ulisses Rocha, César Camargo Mariano, and many others.
Notable honors include an Honorable Mention at the Juried Arts Exhibition for the University of Florida College of the Arts, a Certificate of Recognition for Advocacy in the Arts from the Florida Higher Education Arts Network, and a College Music Society’s David Kushner Student Paper Award. His album “Impressionism – Acoustic Guitar Solo”, was praised as “highly recommended” by the Classical Guitar Magazine. Carvalho was the Composer-in-Residence at the Harn Museum of Art for the 2018-2019 year.
Carvalho presented his current research on Steve Reich and narratives of identity at musicology conferences in Europe, Asia, and in the US. As a guitarist, Carvalho has presented his work in four continents and recorded three albums.
Carvalho serves the international composer’s community as the Director of the Composers Forum at the Vienna Summer Music Festival and the Artistic Director for the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival. Furthermore, with a strong knowledge of both organizational behavior and arts administration, Carvalho has been responsible for the facilitation of over $200,000 for student arts programs in the state of Florida, which brought in over 120 visiting guest artists for art, music, and dance programs.
Active as a music educator, Carvalho is currently Assistant Professor at Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. Carvalho’s experience educator includes a four-year appointment at the Municipal School of São Paulo and several courses taught at the University of Florida, including community outreach and upper-division classes. Carvalho earned a PhD in Composition at the University of Florida and his Masters and Bachelor of Music at the University of São Paulo.
Notable honors include an Honorable Mention at the Juried Arts Exhibition for the University of Florida College of the Arts, a Certificate of Recognition for Advocacy in the Arts from the Florida Higher Education Arts Network, and a College Music Society’s David Kushner Student Paper Award. His album “Impressionism – Acoustic Guitar Solo”, was praised as “highly recommended” by the Classical Guitar Magazine. Carvalho was the Composer-in-Residence at the Harn Museum of Art for the 2018-2019 year.
Carvalho presented his current research on Steve Reich and narratives of identity at musicology conferences in Europe, Asia, and in the US. As a guitarist, Carvalho has presented his work in four continents and recorded three albums.
Carvalho serves the international composer’s community as the Director of the Composers Forum at the Vienna Summer Music Festival and the Artistic Director for the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival. Furthermore, with a strong knowledge of both organizational behavior and arts administration, Carvalho has been responsible for the facilitation of over $200,000 for student arts programs in the state of Florida, which brought in over 120 visiting guest artists for art, music, and dance programs.
Active as a music educator, Carvalho is currently Assistant Professor at Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. Carvalho’s experience educator includes a four-year appointment at the Municipal School of São Paulo and several courses taught at the University of Florida, including community outreach and upper-division classes. Carvalho earned a PhD in Composition at the University of Florida and his Masters and Bachelor of Music at the University of São Paulo.
Irvine Arditti
In addition to his legendary career as first violinist of the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has also given life to many solo works. Born in London in 1953, Irvine Arditti began his studies at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 16. He joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1976 and after two years, at the age of 25, became its Co-Concert Master. He left the orchestra in 1980 in order to devote more time to the Arditti Quartet which he had formed while still a student.
Irvine Arditti has given the world premières of a plethora of large scale works especially written for him. These include Xenakis' Dox Orkh and Hosokawa's Landscape III, both for violin and orchestra, as well as Ferneyhough's Terrain, Francesconi's Riti Neurali and Body Electric, Dillon's Vernal Showers and Harvey's Scena, Paredes Señales, Pauset's Vita Nova, Reynolds Aspiration and Sciarrino's Le Stagioni Artificiali all for violin and ensemble.
He has appeared with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles including the Asko Ensemble, Avanti, Bayerische Rundfunk, BBC Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Ensemble Contrechamps, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, London Sinfonietta, Orchestre National de Paris, Het Residentie den Hague, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Nieuw Ensemble, Nouvel Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, Philharmonia orchestra, Schoenberg Ensemble, Ensemble Signal. His performances of many concertos have won acclaim by their composers, in particular Ligeti and Dutilleux.
As well as having recorded over 200 CDs with the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has built an impressive catalogue of solo recordings. His CD of solo violin works by composers such as Carter, Estrada, Ferneyhough and Donatoni, as well as his recording of Nono's La Lontananza, both on the label Montaigne Auvidis, have been awarded numerous prizes. His recording of Cage's Freeman Etudes for solo violin, as part of his complete Cage violin music series for American label Mode, has made musical history. The complete Mode recordings of Berio's Sequenza's, on which Irvine recorded the violin sequenza won the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis in 2007, and was awarded best contemporary music release by the Italian music magazine Amadeus in 2008. The violin concertos by Berio, Xenakis and Mira, recorded in Moscow with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, are featured on a disc by Swedish label Bis. Recently released on the Mode label was Paredes Señales with Ensemble Signal conducted by Brad Lubman.
In November 2017 Irvine was presented in Paris with Charles Cros Grand Prix in honorem, a lifetime achievement award recognizing the sum total of his career and his exceptional role in the service of music. The prize was also for his latest solo recital CD release called Caprices with music by Boulez, Carter, Nunes and Sciarrino on the Aeon label. A double CD of the music of Roger Reynolds has just been released on the Kairos label.
Irvine Arditti's arrangement for Quartet of Cage's 44 Harmonies from Apartment House can be found on Mode Records and is published by Edition Peters in New York.
On 7th October as part of an Arditti feature at the Festival D'Automne in the Maison de la Radio in Paris there was a performance of Ferneyhough's Unsichtbare Farben for solo violin and Terrain for violin and ensemble with Ensemble Modern under Brad Lubman.
On 8th Novemberat the University of Buffalo there was the first complete performance of Felder's Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Linea under Jean-Paul Wurtz.
On 22nd November at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Irvine performed Paredes's Violin concerto Señales with the London Sinfonietta under Martyn Brabbins.
On 8th February 2018, there was a performance of Cattaneo's violin concerto in an early evening concert (18.00) at the Royal Festival Hall, London with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roland Kluttig. Also Sciarrino's 6 Caprici for solo violin was performed.
In early June Irvine returned again to the Festival June in Buffalo, where he was in residence for one week. He performed a recital with the pre-premiere of Thomalla's Air. Solo pieces by Nunes and Paredes were also heard, as well as a performance of Reynolds Shifting/Drifting with computer musician Paul Hembree
On 9th June there was a performance of Felder's recent violin concerto Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Signal under Brad Lubman.
Thomalla's Air was heard again in Darmstadt on22nd July.
On29th July there was a performance of Nono's La Lontananza at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena
On10th August there was a performance of Xenakis's Dikhthas in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires with the pianist Nicolas Hodges.
On 13th October there was a performance at the Open Music Festival in Forli, Italy with Nunes Einspielung and Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices.
On 22nd October at the Dialog series in the Gare du Nord in Basle there will be a concert with music by Dillon, Nunes, Thomalla and Xenakis.
On 23rd November in the Konzerthaus in Vienna there will be a late night recital containing Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices and a new work by James Clarke called 2017-V
In July 2013, The Techniques of Violin Playing, a book by Arditti and the composer Robert Platz was released by Barenreiter Edition.
Irvine Arditti has given the world premières of a plethora of large scale works especially written for him. These include Xenakis' Dox Orkh and Hosokawa's Landscape III, both for violin and orchestra, as well as Ferneyhough's Terrain, Francesconi's Riti Neurali and Body Electric, Dillon's Vernal Showers and Harvey's Scena, Paredes Señales, Pauset's Vita Nova, Reynolds Aspiration and Sciarrino's Le Stagioni Artificiali all for violin and ensemble.
He has appeared with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles including the Asko Ensemble, Avanti, Bayerische Rundfunk, BBC Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Ensemble Contrechamps, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, London Sinfonietta, Orchestre National de Paris, Het Residentie den Hague, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Nieuw Ensemble, Nouvel Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, Philharmonia orchestra, Schoenberg Ensemble, Ensemble Signal. His performances of many concertos have won acclaim by their composers, in particular Ligeti and Dutilleux.
As well as having recorded over 200 CDs with the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has built an impressive catalogue of solo recordings. His CD of solo violin works by composers such as Carter, Estrada, Ferneyhough and Donatoni, as well as his recording of Nono's La Lontananza, both on the label Montaigne Auvidis, have been awarded numerous prizes. His recording of Cage's Freeman Etudes for solo violin, as part of his complete Cage violin music series for American label Mode, has made musical history. The complete Mode recordings of Berio's Sequenza's, on which Irvine recorded the violin sequenza won the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis in 2007, and was awarded best contemporary music release by the Italian music magazine Amadeus in 2008. The violin concertos by Berio, Xenakis and Mira, recorded in Moscow with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, are featured on a disc by Swedish label Bis. Recently released on the Mode label was Paredes Señales with Ensemble Signal conducted by Brad Lubman.
In November 2017 Irvine was presented in Paris with Charles Cros Grand Prix in honorem, a lifetime achievement award recognizing the sum total of his career and his exceptional role in the service of music. The prize was also for his latest solo recital CD release called Caprices with music by Boulez, Carter, Nunes and Sciarrino on the Aeon label. A double CD of the music of Roger Reynolds has just been released on the Kairos label.
Irvine Arditti's arrangement for Quartet of Cage's 44 Harmonies from Apartment House can be found on Mode Records and is published by Edition Peters in New York.
On 7th October as part of an Arditti feature at the Festival D'Automne in the Maison de la Radio in Paris there was a performance of Ferneyhough's Unsichtbare Farben for solo violin and Terrain for violin and ensemble with Ensemble Modern under Brad Lubman.
On 8th Novemberat the University of Buffalo there was the first complete performance of Felder's Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Linea under Jean-Paul Wurtz.
On 22nd November at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Irvine performed Paredes's Violin concerto Señales with the London Sinfonietta under Martyn Brabbins.
On 8th February 2018, there was a performance of Cattaneo's violin concerto in an early evening concert (18.00) at the Royal Festival Hall, London with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roland Kluttig. Also Sciarrino's 6 Caprici for solo violin was performed.
In early June Irvine returned again to the Festival June in Buffalo, where he was in residence for one week. He performed a recital with the pre-premiere of Thomalla's Air. Solo pieces by Nunes and Paredes were also heard, as well as a performance of Reynolds Shifting/Drifting with computer musician Paul Hembree
On 9th June there was a performance of Felder's recent violin concerto Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Signal under Brad Lubman.
Thomalla's Air was heard again in Darmstadt on22nd July.
On29th July there was a performance of Nono's La Lontananza at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena
On10th August there was a performance of Xenakis's Dikhthas in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires with the pianist Nicolas Hodges.
On 13th October there was a performance at the Open Music Festival in Forli, Italy with Nunes Einspielung and Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices.
On 22nd October at the Dialog series in the Gare du Nord in Basle there will be a concert with music by Dillon, Nunes, Thomalla and Xenakis.
On 23rd November in the Konzerthaus in Vienna there will be a late night recital containing Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices and a new work by James Clarke called 2017-V
In July 2013, The Techniques of Violin Playing, a book by Arditti and the composer Robert Platz was released by Barenreiter Edition.
Simeon Pironkoff
From 1985 to 1989 continuation of his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (composition with Erich Urbanner, conducting with Karl Österreicher)
From 1989 to 1992 freelance activities as conductor of numerous opera productions and collaborartion with several european operas, contemporary music ensembles and independent stages, as well as many orchestras and young symphony orchestras in Europe (performances in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria a.o.)
In 1992 he founded PHACE | contemporary music (former ensemble on_line vienna) wich became in his position as artistic director and first conductor one of the most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria today.
From 2000 to 2003 board member of the Austrian section of ISCM. During this time he established and curated the chamber music series “FOKUS” at the Alte Schmiede – Hall in Vienna. Numerous world premieres and Austrian premieres of the most important composers of the international contemporary scene had taken place during this time.
Since 1992 he is appointed to professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna at the conducting department. Since 2002 Professor in conducting.
He was present at many major festivals and venues in Austria, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan (a.o. in tge frame of “generator – series” at Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Jeunesse Festival, Klangbogen, Sofia Music Weeks, Musica Nova Sofia, March Music Days (Rousse, Bulgaria), ZeitTon Festival, Steirischer Herbst, Musikforum Viktring/Carinthia, Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Rome), Salzburg Festival, MaerzMusik Berlin, Monmartre en Europe (Paris, France), bludenzer tage zeitgemaesser musik (Bludenz, Austria), pianissimo (Sofia), WDR (Essen Philharmonie), INMM Darmstadt, ISCM World Music Days (Tokio, Hong Kong, Vienna) and many more.
As composer and as conductor he collaborated with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien , die reihe, Ensemble Wiener Collage, Newton ensemble, ensemble recherche (Freiburg, Germany), ensemble 2r2m (Paris), Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Gdansk/Poland, Orchestre Symphonique Pro Arte de Paris, Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico Città di Vicenza, Orchestra of the APA, Hong Kong, Wiener Taschenoper, among many others.
For his work he received several scholarships, promotions and prizes such as the Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis , Richard Wagner scholarship, the scholarship of the Alban Berg Foundation, the Working – Scholarship of the City of Vienna, the mention prize of the Ministry of Cultural Affaires of Austria, the Promotion Award of the City of Vienna, the Government Sholarship a.o.
He released (as composer and conductor) several CD’s with works of the XXth and XXIth century and realised many broadcast transmissions and productions for the Austrian Radio Broadcasting ORF, the Bulgarian National Radio Broadcasting, Deutschlandfunk, Radio Municipal de Buenos Aires…
He gave many guest lectures at the Institute of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Conservatorio Nacional de Buenos Aires, the Sofia State Academy of Music and INMM Darmstadt.
He published several texts in the music magazines “TON” of the Austria ISCM Section and in the editions of the Society oof Music & aesthetics (Freiburg i. d. Br.)
He is very active as a pedagogue and gives master classes in conducting in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Colombia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Italy. A large number of his students won several competitions and are nowadays active (also in leading positions) at various orchestral and opera stages in Europe and USA.
For his last CD – Production as composer skin.double he received the publicity award of SKE austro mechana.
From 1989 to 1992 freelance activities as conductor of numerous opera productions and collaborartion with several european operas, contemporary music ensembles and independent stages, as well as many orchestras and young symphony orchestras in Europe (performances in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria a.o.)
In 1992 he founded PHACE | contemporary music (former ensemble on_line vienna) wich became in his position as artistic director and first conductor one of the most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria today.
From 2000 to 2003 board member of the Austrian section of ISCM. During this time he established and curated the chamber music series “FOKUS” at the Alte Schmiede – Hall in Vienna. Numerous world premieres and Austrian premieres of the most important composers of the international contemporary scene had taken place during this time.
Since 1992 he is appointed to professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna at the conducting department. Since 2002 Professor in conducting.
He was present at many major festivals and venues in Austria, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan (a.o. in tge frame of “generator – series” at Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Jeunesse Festival, Klangbogen, Sofia Music Weeks, Musica Nova Sofia, March Music Days (Rousse, Bulgaria), ZeitTon Festival, Steirischer Herbst, Musikforum Viktring/Carinthia, Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Rome), Salzburg Festival, MaerzMusik Berlin, Monmartre en Europe (Paris, France), bludenzer tage zeitgemaesser musik (Bludenz, Austria), pianissimo (Sofia), WDR (Essen Philharmonie), INMM Darmstadt, ISCM World Music Days (Tokio, Hong Kong, Vienna) and many more.
As composer and as conductor he collaborated with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien , die reihe, Ensemble Wiener Collage, Newton ensemble, ensemble recherche (Freiburg, Germany), ensemble 2r2m (Paris), Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Gdansk/Poland, Orchestre Symphonique Pro Arte de Paris, Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico Città di Vicenza, Orchestra of the APA, Hong Kong, Wiener Taschenoper, among many others.
For his work he received several scholarships, promotions and prizes such as the Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis , Richard Wagner scholarship, the scholarship of the Alban Berg Foundation, the Working – Scholarship of the City of Vienna, the mention prize of the Ministry of Cultural Affaires of Austria, the Promotion Award of the City of Vienna, the Government Sholarship a.o.
He released (as composer and conductor) several CD’s with works of the XXth and XXIth century and realised many broadcast transmissions and productions for the Austrian Radio Broadcasting ORF, the Bulgarian National Radio Broadcasting, Deutschlandfunk, Radio Municipal de Buenos Aires…
He gave many guest lectures at the Institute of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Conservatorio Nacional de Buenos Aires, the Sofia State Academy of Music and INMM Darmstadt.
He published several texts in the music magazines “TON” of the Austria ISCM Section and in the editions of the Society oof Music & aesthetics (Freiburg i. d. Br.)
He is very active as a pedagogue and gives master classes in conducting in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Colombia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Italy. A large number of his students won several competitions and are nowadays active (also in leading positions) at various orchestral and opera stages in Europe and USA.
For his last CD – Production as composer skin.double he received the publicity award of SKE austro mechana.
Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin
Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin (*1968 in Mocsow) studied composition with Boguslaw Schaeffer and piano with Alfons Kontarsky, Dimo Dimov and Boyan Vodenitcharov at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and at the State Music Academy in Sofia.
In 2007, her violin concerto “Mahagony”, written during the stay at the artist residency MacDowell Colony, was premiered by David Bowlin in the Carnegie Hall. The Bowlin´s latest CD (2019 New York) includes two of her works.
Her orchestra piece „Annäherung“, comissioned by the Government of Salzburg was recorded by the Mozarteum Orchestra under Johannes Kalitzke and presented in the “Viva!Mozart” exhibition in Salzburg celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday. Her latest orchestra piece "TARSIS" (2019) was nominated for the Rychenberg Competition and recorded by the Musikkollegium Winterthur conducted by Pierre-Alain Monot.
Performances of Karastoyanova-Hermentin´s works have been held in the Musikverein, ACFNY, “Chamber Series” of the CSO, Merkin Concert Hall, Nordic House Torshavn, State Opera Donetsk, Parliament of Canada, Palácio da Justiça Manaus, Flagey Brussels, Megaron Athene as well as in the festivals Ultraschall Berlin, Klangspuren, Warsaw Autumn, Kyiv Music Fest. Her compositions have been interpreted by Oswald Sallaberger, David Fulmer, Nacho de Paz, Lars Mlekusch, David Bowlin, Katinka Kleijn, Jonathan Vinocour, Artem Nyzhnyk, Hayk Melikyan as well as by many ensembles including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble New York, the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra, the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Zaporozhje, PHACE, oenm Salzburg, Stadler Quartett, Wiener Collage, die Reihe, Da Capo Chamber Players.
Ms. Karastoyanova-Hermentin has received commissions from Konzerthaus Vienna, WDR, Siemens Music Foundation, ORF - the Austrian Broadcasting, Aspekte Festival. Her music has been recognized with the Austrian State Prize “Outstanding Artist Award 2013 Musik”, the State Composers Grant (2001,2006, 2010), the Promotion Prize of the City Vienna, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Grant, the Composers Grant of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, the Annual Grant of the Government of Salzburg, Theodor-Körner Award for Art and Science. She is recipient of the "Aaron Copland" fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in the USA and winner of the Young Composers Project of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Her music appears on CD labels - Capriccio, Gramola, New Focus Recordings, Austrian Broadcasting.
She has performed as a pianist both in the field of classical and contemporary music, a.o. as a soloist with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, in festivals such as Aspekte Salzburg, Hörgänge Wien (Konzerthaus Vienna), Sofia summer, Skopsko leto.
In 2007, her violin concerto “Mahagony”, written during the stay at the artist residency MacDowell Colony, was premiered by David Bowlin in the Carnegie Hall. The Bowlin´s latest CD (2019 New York) includes two of her works.
Her orchestra piece „Annäherung“, comissioned by the Government of Salzburg was recorded by the Mozarteum Orchestra under Johannes Kalitzke and presented in the “Viva!Mozart” exhibition in Salzburg celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday. Her latest orchestra piece "TARSIS" (2019) was nominated for the Rychenberg Competition and recorded by the Musikkollegium Winterthur conducted by Pierre-Alain Monot.
Performances of Karastoyanova-Hermentin´s works have been held in the Musikverein, ACFNY, “Chamber Series” of the CSO, Merkin Concert Hall, Nordic House Torshavn, State Opera Donetsk, Parliament of Canada, Palácio da Justiça Manaus, Flagey Brussels, Megaron Athene as well as in the festivals Ultraschall Berlin, Klangspuren, Warsaw Autumn, Kyiv Music Fest. Her compositions have been interpreted by Oswald Sallaberger, David Fulmer, Nacho de Paz, Lars Mlekusch, David Bowlin, Katinka Kleijn, Jonathan Vinocour, Artem Nyzhnyk, Hayk Melikyan as well as by many ensembles including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble New York, the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra, the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Zaporozhje, PHACE, oenm Salzburg, Stadler Quartett, Wiener Collage, die Reihe, Da Capo Chamber Players.
Ms. Karastoyanova-Hermentin has received commissions from Konzerthaus Vienna, WDR, Siemens Music Foundation, ORF - the Austrian Broadcasting, Aspekte Festival. Her music has been recognized with the Austrian State Prize “Outstanding Artist Award 2013 Musik”, the State Composers Grant (2001,2006, 2010), the Promotion Prize of the City Vienna, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Grant, the Composers Grant of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, the Annual Grant of the Government of Salzburg, Theodor-Körner Award for Art and Science. She is recipient of the "Aaron Copland" fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in the USA and winner of the Young Composers Project of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Her music appears on CD labels - Capriccio, Gramola, New Focus Recordings, Austrian Broadcasting.
She has performed as a pianist both in the field of classical and contemporary music, a.o. as a soloist with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, in festivals such as Aspekte Salzburg, Hörgänge Wien (Konzerthaus Vienna), Sofia summer, Skopsko leto.
Pierluigi Billone
Born in 1960 in Italy, Pierluigi Billone lives in Vienna.
He studied composition with Salvatore Sciarrino and Helmut Lachenmann.
Billone's music is regularly performed by relevant interpreters in the most reputed New Music Festivals, and broadcasted by the most important radios in and beyond Europe
His works received international awards such as the Kompositionspreis der Stadt Stuttgart (Stuttgart 1993), the Busoni-Kompositionspreis (Academy of Arts Berlin 1996) the Wiener Internationaler Kompositionspreis (Vienna 2004), the Ernst-Krenek-Preis (Vienna 2006), and the Kompositionspreis der Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung (Munich 2010).
Pierluigi Billone has been guest professor for composition at the Music University Graz, Music University Frankfurt and at the Escola Superior de Música de Barcellona.
He is regularly invited as teacher and lecturer in composition courses such as: IEMA-Ensemble Modern Akademie 2008. Harvard University 2010. Columbia University NY 2010. MCME International Academy Russland 2011. Ferienkurse Darmstadt 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. Impulse Akademie Graz 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Tzlil Meducan Israel 2011, 2014, 2015. MCIC Madrid 2015, 2016. Boston University 2015. New York University 2015. Composit-Rieti 2015, 2016, 2017. Royaumont Voix Nouvelles 2016. Kalv Academy-Sweden 2018.
The works of Pierluigi Billone appear on the Kairos, Stradivarius, Col-legno, Durian, EMSA and Ein_Klang labels.
He studied composition with Salvatore Sciarrino and Helmut Lachenmann.
Billone's music is regularly performed by relevant interpreters in the most reputed New Music Festivals, and broadcasted by the most important radios in and beyond Europe
His works received international awards such as the Kompositionspreis der Stadt Stuttgart (Stuttgart 1993), the Busoni-Kompositionspreis (Academy of Arts Berlin 1996) the Wiener Internationaler Kompositionspreis (Vienna 2004), the Ernst-Krenek-Preis (Vienna 2006), and the Kompositionspreis der Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung (Munich 2010).
Pierluigi Billone has been guest professor for composition at the Music University Graz, Music University Frankfurt and at the Escola Superior de Música de Barcellona.
He is regularly invited as teacher and lecturer in composition courses such as: IEMA-Ensemble Modern Akademie 2008. Harvard University 2010. Columbia University NY 2010. MCME International Academy Russland 2011. Ferienkurse Darmstadt 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. Impulse Akademie Graz 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Tzlil Meducan Israel 2011, 2014, 2015. MCIC Madrid 2015, 2016. Boston University 2015. New York University 2015. Composit-Rieti 2015, 2016, 2017. Royaumont Voix Nouvelles 2016. Kalv Academy-Sweden 2018.
The works of Pierluigi Billone appear on the Kairos, Stradivarius, Col-legno, Durian, EMSA and Ein_Klang labels.
Reinhard Fuchs
Reinhard Fuchs, born in 1974, first studied accordion at the Bruckner-Conservatory Linz (1991-1995). After that he completed his studies in composition with Michael Jarrell (1995 - 2002) at the University of Music in Vienna. 1997/98, Fuchs attended studies at the University of Miami in Florida. Courses with B. Ferneyhoug h, M. Stroppa, M. Lindberg, K. Huber were further important stimuli for his work.
Next to commissions of renowned ensembles and organizers, Reinhard Fuchs can also refer to numerous international prices and distinctions (1st prize at the 7th international composition competition Salzburg, the 2nd prize at "stasis et vita" / Germany, the special prize of the Foundation Royaumont / FRA, 2001 the Anton-Bruckner- Prize, 2003 austrian grant for composers).
In 1997, he founded together with colleges the composers group GEGENKLANG.
His works were performed by ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, RSO Wien, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Basel Sinfonietta, Les Percussion de Strasbourg, Arditti Quartet, Wiener Klaviertrio, Trio Amos,… & by conductors such as Johannes Kalitzke, Matthias Pintscher, Beat Furrer, Sebastian Gottschick, Fabrice Bollon, Annu Tali, Susanna Mälkki… at Festivals such as Wien Modern, Salzburger Festspiele, Musiktage Donaueschingen, Musikprotokoll at Steirischer Herbst, Hörgänge, Konzerthaus Berlin, Contemporary Music Festival Alicante, Soundings London, Warehouse London, Festival Latinoamericano de Musica (Caracas / Venezuela), New Music Festival Sound Ways (St. Petersburg / Russia), Venezuela Festival Internacional „a tempo“ (Caracas / Venezuela)...
Since 2008, Reinhard Fuchs is artistic director and general manager of PHACE (www.phace.at).
In 2014, Reinhard Fuchs receives the Erste-Bank-Composition-Prize.
Next to commissions of renowned ensembles and organizers, Reinhard Fuchs can also refer to numerous international prices and distinctions (1st prize at the 7th international composition competition Salzburg, the 2nd prize at "stasis et vita" / Germany, the special prize of the Foundation Royaumont / FRA, 2001 the Anton-Bruckner- Prize, 2003 austrian grant for composers).
In 1997, he founded together with colleges the composers group GEGENKLANG.
His works were performed by ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, RSO Wien, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Basel Sinfonietta, Les Percussion de Strasbourg, Arditti Quartet, Wiener Klaviertrio, Trio Amos,… & by conductors such as Johannes Kalitzke, Matthias Pintscher, Beat Furrer, Sebastian Gottschick, Fabrice Bollon, Annu Tali, Susanna Mälkki… at Festivals such as Wien Modern, Salzburger Festspiele, Musiktage Donaueschingen, Musikprotokoll at Steirischer Herbst, Hörgänge, Konzerthaus Berlin, Contemporary Music Festival Alicante, Soundings London, Warehouse London, Festival Latinoamericano de Musica (Caracas / Venezuela), New Music Festival Sound Ways (St. Petersburg / Russia), Venezuela Festival Internacional „a tempo“ (Caracas / Venezuela)...
Since 2008, Reinhard Fuchs is artistic director and general manager of PHACE (www.phace.at).
In 2014, Reinhard Fuchs receives the Erste-Bank-Composition-Prize.
Šimon Voseček
Šimon Voseček (13 April 1978) is an Austrian-Czech composer. He is known for his opera "Biedermann und die Brandstifter" ("Biedermann and the Arsonists", (2005-2007; 2013; 2015), which was premiered in Vienna by Neue Oper Wien in 2013).
Ulrich Drechsler
The award-winning saxophonist & bass clarinetist Ulrich Drechsler has been working as a freelance musician & composer in the field of contemporary improvised music and film music both nationally and internationally. His successful projects include the band "Café Drechsler", duets with the pianists Tord Gustavsen and Stefano Battaglia, the Ulrich Drechsler cello quartet, etc. with whom he has performed all over the world. He is under contract at the major label UNIVERSAL MUSIC as well as the renowned German jazz label ENJA YELLOWBIRD. In his workshops and courses, he places special emphasis on the support and development of the artistic individuality and authenticity of the students in addition to the instrumental aspects.
Anthony Green
The creative output of Anthony R. Green (composer, performer, social justice) includes musical and visual creations, interpretations of original, contemporary, and repertoire works, collaborations, educational outreach, and more. Behind all his artistic endeavors are the ideals of equality and freedom. His compositions and projects have been presented in 20+ countries by various internationally acclaimed soloists and ensembles, such as pianists Hayk Melikyan and Eunmi Ko, the American Composers Orchestra, the Keuris Saxophone Quartet, NOISE-BRIDGE, and Alarm Will Sound, to name a few. As a performer, he has appeared at venues across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, presenting piano and chamber music recitals, interdisciplinary and experimental performances, and lecture-recitals that fuse performance with research. Green’s most important social justice work has been with Castle of our Skins: celebrating Black Artistry through Music.
Clemens Gadenstätter
Clemens Gadenstätter, born in 1966, studied composition in Vienna and then Stuttgart under Helmut Lachenmann. He teaches at the University of Music Graz as a professor of Analysis, Music Theory, and Composition.
Gadenstätter's musical undertaking explores the compositional resynthesis of perception, sensation and feeling. For him, this should bring together the trinity of listening, comprehension, and composition.
His recent work concerns: the transformation of acoustically triggered, pre-formed feelings (in the series E.P.O.S.: les premiers cris, les cris des lumières, les derniers cris for different ensemble arrangements); the notion of the banal (in the pieces Semantical Investigations 1&2, as well as the essay "Was heißt hier banal" [What do we mean banal?]); the poly-modality of listening (in häuten, schlitzen for string quartet 1&2, ES for voice and ensemble); as well as musical iconography (in the series ICONOSONICS 1 – 3). His larger works thematize these ideas in multimedia form, such as daily transformations for voice, ensemble, electronics, text, and film, with Lisa Spalt (text) and Anna Henckel-Donnersmark (film).
Gadenstätter"s work has been commissioned by:
The Donaueschingen Festival, Musik der Jahrhunderte - Stuttgart, WDR - Witten Days for New Chamber Music, Wien Modern, ORF/RSO (The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra), Musikbiennale Berlin, Salzburg Festspiele, Musikbiennale Salzburg, Steirischer Herbst, Ultima - Oslo, and more.
Gadenstätter's musical undertaking explores the compositional resynthesis of perception, sensation and feeling. For him, this should bring together the trinity of listening, comprehension, and composition.
His recent work concerns: the transformation of acoustically triggered, pre-formed feelings (in the series E.P.O.S.: les premiers cris, les cris des lumières, les derniers cris for different ensemble arrangements); the notion of the banal (in the pieces Semantical Investigations 1&2, as well as the essay "Was heißt hier banal" [What do we mean banal?]); the poly-modality of listening (in häuten, schlitzen for string quartet 1&2, ES for voice and ensemble); as well as musical iconography (in the series ICONOSONICS 1 – 3). His larger works thematize these ideas in multimedia form, such as daily transformations for voice, ensemble, electronics, text, and film, with Lisa Spalt (text) and Anna Henckel-Donnersmark (film).
Gadenstätter"s work has been commissioned by:
The Donaueschingen Festival, Musik der Jahrhunderte - Stuttgart, WDR - Witten Days for New Chamber Music, Wien Modern, ORF/RSO (The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra), Musikbiennale Berlin, Salzburg Festspiele, Musikbiennale Salzburg, Steirischer Herbst, Ultima - Oslo, and more.
Oliver Weber
Oliver Weber studied musicology at the University of Zurich as well as organ with Janine Lehmann and private composition lessons with Rudolf Kelterborn in Basel. Following his completion of this program, he began instrumental and electroacoustic composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Michael Jarrell, Dieter Kaufmann and Wolfgang Mitterer. Since 2004, Weber regularly performs as an interpreter of his own and electronic works as well as an improviser at home and abroad including: Wien Modern, SICMF South Korea, New Music Week Shanghai, Electronic Spring Vienna, Grabenfesttage Wien, Kulturfestival Origen, Ensemble Nikel, RSO Vienna, Ensemble Phace, and many others in Europe.Weber has been comminsioned by many prestiguos organizations including: Wien Modern, sirene Operntheater, progetto semiserio, Central European Chamber Orchestra MIKAMO, Kulturfestival Origen, Duo Iridolon, Kammertonquartett, The Black Page Orchestra, Soyuz21, Lars Mlekusch, Valentin Johannes Gloor and others.
As a collaborative artist, he has work with the Aargau Kuratorium, Theodor Körner Prize, state scholarships for the composition of the Republic of Austria, several work grants from the BUKK Österreich and others. Participation in the International Young Composers Forum Brussels. 2013 Artist in Residence at the ICST in Zurich Oliver Weber lives and works professional as a composer, musician, and scholar in Vienna.
As a collaborative artist, he has work with the Aargau Kuratorium, Theodor Körner Prize, state scholarships for the composition of the Republic of Austria, several work grants from the BUKK Österreich and others. Participation in the International Young Composers Forum Brussels. 2013 Artist in Residence at the ICST in Zurich Oliver Weber lives and works professional as a composer, musician, and scholar in Vienna.
Diogo Carvalho
[program director]
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, composer Diogo Carvalho writes engaging concert music that communicates to contemporary audiences. Carvalho’s style was inspired by his electroacoustic music experience, Brazilian music background, and jazz. Carvalho has worked with the Unheard-of\\Ensemble, Bold City Contemporary Ensemble, Irvine Arditti, Boston String Quartet, Laurent Estoppey, Jeremy Huw Williams, Fonema Consort, Philipp Gerschlauer, Orquestra Jovem Tom Jobim, Hermeto Paschoal, Ulisses Rocha, César Camargo Mariano, and many others.
Notable honors include an Honorable Mention at the Juried Arts Exhibition for the University of Florida College of the Arts, a Certificate of Recognition for Advocacy in the Arts from the Florida Higher Education Arts Network, and a College Music Society’s David Kushner Student Paper Award. His album “Impressionism – Acoustic Guitar Solo”, was praised as “highly recommended” by the Classical Guitar Magazine. Carvalho was the Composer-in-Residence at the Harn Museum of Art for the 2018-2019 year.
Carvalho presented his current research on Steve Reich and narratives of identity at musicology conferences in Europe, Asia, and in the US. As a guitarist, Carvalho has presented his work in four continents and recorded three albums.
Carvalho serves the international composer’s community as the Director of the Composers Forum at the Vienna Summer Music Festival and the Artistic Director for the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival. Furthermore, with a strong knowledge of both organizational behavior and arts administration, Carvalho has been responsible for the facilitation of over $200,000 for student arts programs in the state of Florida, which brought in over 120 visiting guest artists for art, music, and dance programs.
Active as a music educator, Carvalho is currently Assistant Professor at Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. Carvalho’s experience educator includes a four-year appointment at the Municipal School of São Paulo and several courses taught at the University of Florida, including community outreach and upper-division classes. Carvalho earned a PhD in Composition at the University of Florida and his Masters and Bachelor of Music at the University of São Paulo.
Notable honors include an Honorable Mention at the Juried Arts Exhibition for the University of Florida College of the Arts, a Certificate of Recognition for Advocacy in the Arts from the Florida Higher Education Arts Network, and a College Music Society’s David Kushner Student Paper Award. His album “Impressionism – Acoustic Guitar Solo”, was praised as “highly recommended” by the Classical Guitar Magazine. Carvalho was the Composer-in-Residence at the Harn Museum of Art for the 2018-2019 year.
Carvalho presented his current research on Steve Reich and narratives of identity at musicology conferences in Europe, Asia, and in the US. As a guitarist, Carvalho has presented his work in four continents and recorded three albums.
Carvalho serves the international composer’s community as the Director of the Composers Forum at the Vienna Summer Music Festival and the Artistic Director for the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival. Furthermore, with a strong knowledge of both organizational behavior and arts administration, Carvalho has been responsible for the facilitation of over $200,000 for student arts programs in the state of Florida, which brought in over 120 visiting guest artists for art, music, and dance programs.
Active as a music educator, Carvalho is currently Assistant Professor at Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. Carvalho’s experience educator includes a four-year appointment at the Municipal School of São Paulo and several courses taught at the University of Florida, including community outreach and upper-division classes. Carvalho earned a PhD in Composition at the University of Florida and his Masters and Bachelor of Music at the University of São Paulo.
Irvine Arditti
In addition to his legendary career as first violinist of the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has also given life to many solo works. Born in London in 1953, Irvine Arditti began his studies at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 16. He joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1976 and after two years, at the age of 25, became its Co-Concert Master. He left the orchestra in 1980 in order to devote more time to the Arditti Quartet which he had formed while still a student.
Irvine Arditti has given the world premières of a plethora of large scale works especially written for him. These include Xenakis' Dox Orkh and Hosokawa's Landscape III, both for violin and orchestra, as well as Ferneyhough's Terrain, Francesconi's Riti Neurali and Body Electric, Dillon's Vernal Showers and Harvey's Scena, Paredes Señales, Pauset's Vita Nova, Reynolds Aspiration and Sciarrino's Le Stagioni Artificiali all for violin and ensemble.
He has appeared with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles including the Asko Ensemble, Avanti, Bayerische Rundfunk, BBC Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Ensemble Contrechamps, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, London Sinfonietta, Orchestre National de Paris, Het Residentie den Hague, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Nieuw Ensemble, Nouvel Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, Philharmonia orchestra, Schoenberg Ensemble, Ensemble Signal. His performances of many concertos have won acclaim by their composers, in particular Ligeti and Dutilleux.
As well as having recorded over 200 CDs with the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has built an impressive catalogue of solo recordings. His CD of solo violin works by composers such as Carter, Estrada, Ferneyhough and Donatoni, as well as his recording of Nono's La Lontananza, both on the label Montaigne Auvidis, have been awarded numerous prizes. His recording of Cage's Freeman Etudes for solo violin, as part of his complete Cage violin music series for American label Mode, has made musical history. The complete Mode recordings of Berio's Sequenza's, on which Irvine recorded the violin sequenza won the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis in 2007, and was awarded best contemporary music release by the Italian music magazine Amadeus in 2008. The violin concertos by Berio, Xenakis and Mira, recorded in Moscow with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, are featured on a disc by Swedish label Bis. Recently released on the Mode label was Paredes Señales with Ensemble Signal conducted by Brad Lubman.
In November 2017 Irvine was presented in Paris with Charles Cros Grand Prix in honorem, a lifetime achievement award recognizing the sum total of his career and his exceptional role in the service of music. The prize was also for his latest solo recital CD release called Caprices with music by Boulez, Carter, Nunes and Sciarrino on the Aeon label. A double CD of the music of Roger Reynolds has just been released on the Kairos label.
Irvine Arditti's arrangement for Quartet of Cage's 44 Harmonies from Apartment House can be found on Mode Records and is published by Edition Peters in New York.
On 7th October as part of an Arditti feature at the Festival D'Automne in the Maison de la Radio in Paris there was a performance of Ferneyhough's Unsichtbare Farben for solo violin and Terrain for violin and ensemble with Ensemble Modern under Brad Lubman.
On 8th Novemberat the University of Buffalo there was the first complete performance of Felder's Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Linea under Jean-Paul Wurtz.
On 22nd November at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Irvine performed Paredes's Violin concerto Señales with the London Sinfonietta under Martyn Brabbins.
On 8th February 2018, there was a performance of Cattaneo's violin concerto in an early evening concert (18.00) at the Royal Festival Hall, London with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roland Kluttig. Also Sciarrino's 6 Caprici for solo violin was performed.
In early June Irvine returned again to the Festival June in Buffalo, where he was in residence for one week. He performed a recital with the pre-premiere of Thomalla's Air. Solo pieces by Nunes and Paredes were also heard, as well as a performance of Reynolds Shifting/Drifting with computer musician Paul Hembree
On 9th June there was a performance of Felder's recent violin concerto Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Signal under Brad Lubman.
Thomalla's Air was heard again in Darmstadt on22nd July.
On29th July there was a performance of Nono's La Lontananza at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena
On10th August there was a performance of Xenakis's Dikhthas in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires with the pianist Nicolas Hodges.
On 13th October there was a performance at the Open Music Festival in Forli, Italy with Nunes Einspielung and Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices.
On 22nd October at the Dialog series in the Gare du Nord in Basle there will be a concert with music by Dillon, Nunes, Thomalla and Xenakis.
On 23rd November in the Konzerthaus in Vienna there will be a late night recital containing Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices and a new work by James Clarke called 2017-V
In July 2013, The Techniques of Violin Playing, a book by Arditti and the composer Robert Platz was released by Barenreiter Edition.
Irvine Arditti has given the world premières of a plethora of large scale works especially written for him. These include Xenakis' Dox Orkh and Hosokawa's Landscape III, both for violin and orchestra, as well as Ferneyhough's Terrain, Francesconi's Riti Neurali and Body Electric, Dillon's Vernal Showers and Harvey's Scena, Paredes Señales, Pauset's Vita Nova, Reynolds Aspiration and Sciarrino's Le Stagioni Artificiali all for violin and ensemble.
He has appeared with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles including the Asko Ensemble, Avanti, Bayerische Rundfunk, BBC Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Ensemble Contrechamps, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, London Sinfonietta, Orchestre National de Paris, Het Residentie den Hague, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Nieuw Ensemble, Nouvel Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, Philharmonia orchestra, Schoenberg Ensemble, Ensemble Signal. His performances of many concertos have won acclaim by their composers, in particular Ligeti and Dutilleux.
As well as having recorded over 200 CDs with the Arditti Quartet, Irvine Arditti has built an impressive catalogue of solo recordings. His CD of solo violin works by composers such as Carter, Estrada, Ferneyhough and Donatoni, as well as his recording of Nono's La Lontananza, both on the label Montaigne Auvidis, have been awarded numerous prizes. His recording of Cage's Freeman Etudes for solo violin, as part of his complete Cage violin music series for American label Mode, has made musical history. The complete Mode recordings of Berio's Sequenza's, on which Irvine recorded the violin sequenza won the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis in 2007, and was awarded best contemporary music release by the Italian music magazine Amadeus in 2008. The violin concertos by Berio, Xenakis and Mira, recorded in Moscow with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, are featured on a disc by Swedish label Bis. Recently released on the Mode label was Paredes Señales with Ensemble Signal conducted by Brad Lubman.
In November 2017 Irvine was presented in Paris with Charles Cros Grand Prix in honorem, a lifetime achievement award recognizing the sum total of his career and his exceptional role in the service of music. The prize was also for his latest solo recital CD release called Caprices with music by Boulez, Carter, Nunes and Sciarrino on the Aeon label. A double CD of the music of Roger Reynolds has just been released on the Kairos label.
Irvine Arditti's arrangement for Quartet of Cage's 44 Harmonies from Apartment House can be found on Mode Records and is published by Edition Peters in New York.
On 7th October as part of an Arditti feature at the Festival D'Automne in the Maison de la Radio in Paris there was a performance of Ferneyhough's Unsichtbare Farben for solo violin and Terrain for violin and ensemble with Ensemble Modern under Brad Lubman.
On 8th Novemberat the University of Buffalo there was the first complete performance of Felder's Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Linea under Jean-Paul Wurtz.
On 22nd November at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Irvine performed Paredes's Violin concerto Señales with the London Sinfonietta under Martyn Brabbins.
On 8th February 2018, there was a performance of Cattaneo's violin concerto in an early evening concert (18.00) at the Royal Festival Hall, London with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roland Kluttig. Also Sciarrino's 6 Caprici for solo violin was performed.
In early June Irvine returned again to the Festival June in Buffalo, where he was in residence for one week. He performed a recital with the pre-premiere of Thomalla's Air. Solo pieces by Nunes and Paredes were also heard, as well as a performance of Reynolds Shifting/Drifting with computer musician Paul Hembree
On 9th June there was a performance of Felder's recent violin concerto Jeu de Tarot with Ensemble Signal under Brad Lubman.
Thomalla's Air was heard again in Darmstadt on22nd July.
On29th July there was a performance of Nono's La Lontananza at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena
On10th August there was a performance of Xenakis's Dikhthas in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires with the pianist Nicolas Hodges.
On 13th October there was a performance at the Open Music Festival in Forli, Italy with Nunes Einspielung and Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices.
On 22nd October at the Dialog series in the Gare du Nord in Basle there will be a concert with music by Dillon, Nunes, Thomalla and Xenakis.
On 23rd November in the Konzerthaus in Vienna there will be a late night recital containing Sciarrino’s 6 Caprices and a new work by James Clarke called 2017-V
In July 2013, The Techniques of Violin Playing, a book by Arditti and the composer Robert Platz was released by Barenreiter Edition.
Simeon Pironkoff
From 1985 to 1989 continuation of his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (composition with Erich Urbanner, conducting with Karl Österreicher)
From 1989 to 1992 freelance activities as conductor of numerous opera productions and collaborartion with several european operas, contemporary music ensembles and independent stages, as well as many orchestras and young symphony orchestras in Europe (performances in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria a.o.)
In 1992 he founded PHACE | contemporary music (former ensemble on_line vienna) wich became in his position as artistic director and first conductor one of the most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria today.
From 2000 to 2003 board member of the Austrian section of ISCM. During this time he established and curated the chamber music series “FOKUS” at the Alte Schmiede – Hall in Vienna. Numerous world premieres and Austrian premieres of the most important composers of the international contemporary scene had taken place during this time.
Since 1992 he is appointed to professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna at the conducting department. Since 2002 Professor in conducting.
He was present at many major festivals and venues in Austria, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan (a.o. in tge frame of “generator – series” at Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Jeunesse Festival, Klangbogen, Sofia Music Weeks, Musica Nova Sofia, March Music Days (Rousse, Bulgaria), ZeitTon Festival, Steirischer Herbst, Musikforum Viktring/Carinthia, Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Rome), Salzburg Festival, MaerzMusik Berlin, Monmartre en Europe (Paris, France), bludenzer tage zeitgemaesser musik (Bludenz, Austria), pianissimo (Sofia), WDR (Essen Philharmonie), INMM Darmstadt, ISCM World Music Days (Tokio, Hong Kong, Vienna) and many more.
As composer and as conductor he collaborated with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien , die reihe, Ensemble Wiener Collage, Newton ensemble, ensemble recherche (Freiburg, Germany), ensemble 2r2m (Paris), Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Gdansk/Poland, Orchestre Symphonique Pro Arte de Paris, Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico Città di Vicenza, Orchestra of the APA, Hong Kong, Wiener Taschenoper, among many others.
For his work he received several scholarships, promotions and prizes such as the Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis , Richard Wagner scholarship, the scholarship of the Alban Berg Foundation, the Working – Scholarship of the City of Vienna, the mention prize of the Ministry of Cultural Affaires of Austria, the Promotion Award of the City of Vienna, the Government Sholarship a.o.
He released (as composer and conductor) several CD’s with works of the XXth and XXIth century and realised many broadcast transmissions and productions for the Austrian Radio Broadcasting ORF, the Bulgarian National Radio Broadcasting, Deutschlandfunk, Radio Municipal de Buenos Aires…
He gave many guest lectures at the Institute of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Conservatorio Nacional de Buenos Aires, the Sofia State Academy of Music and INMM Darmstadt.
He published several texts in the music magazines “TON” of the Austria ISCM Section and in the editions of the Society oof Music & aesthetics (Freiburg i. d. Br.)
He is very active as a pedagogue and gives master classes in conducting in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Colombia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Italy. A large number of his students won several competitions and are nowadays active (also in leading positions) at various orchestral and opera stages in Europe and USA.
For his last CD – Production as composer skin.double he received the publicity award of SKE austro mechana.
From 1989 to 1992 freelance activities as conductor of numerous opera productions and collaborartion with several european operas, contemporary music ensembles and independent stages, as well as many orchestras and young symphony orchestras in Europe (performances in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria a.o.)
In 1992 he founded PHACE | contemporary music (former ensemble on_line vienna) wich became in his position as artistic director and first conductor one of the most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria today.
From 2000 to 2003 board member of the Austrian section of ISCM. During this time he established and curated the chamber music series “FOKUS” at the Alte Schmiede – Hall in Vienna. Numerous world premieres and Austrian premieres of the most important composers of the international contemporary scene had taken place during this time.
Since 1992 he is appointed to professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna at the conducting department. Since 2002 Professor in conducting.
He was present at many major festivals and venues in Austria, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan (a.o. in tge frame of “generator – series” at Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Jeunesse Festival, Klangbogen, Sofia Music Weeks, Musica Nova Sofia, March Music Days (Rousse, Bulgaria), ZeitTon Festival, Steirischer Herbst, Musikforum Viktring/Carinthia, Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Rome), Salzburg Festival, MaerzMusik Berlin, Monmartre en Europe (Paris, France), bludenzer tage zeitgemaesser musik (Bludenz, Austria), pianissimo (Sofia), WDR (Essen Philharmonie), INMM Darmstadt, ISCM World Music Days (Tokio, Hong Kong, Vienna) and many more.
As composer and as conductor he collaborated with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien , die reihe, Ensemble Wiener Collage, Newton ensemble, ensemble recherche (Freiburg, Germany), ensemble 2r2m (Paris), Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Gdansk/Poland, Orchestre Symphonique Pro Arte de Paris, Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico Città di Vicenza, Orchestra of the APA, Hong Kong, Wiener Taschenoper, among many others.
For his work he received several scholarships, promotions and prizes such as the Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis , Richard Wagner scholarship, the scholarship of the Alban Berg Foundation, the Working – Scholarship of the City of Vienna, the mention prize of the Ministry of Cultural Affaires of Austria, the Promotion Award of the City of Vienna, the Government Sholarship a.o.
He released (as composer and conductor) several CD’s with works of the XXth and XXIth century and realised many broadcast transmissions and productions for the Austrian Radio Broadcasting ORF, the Bulgarian National Radio Broadcasting, Deutschlandfunk, Radio Municipal de Buenos Aires…
He gave many guest lectures at the Institute of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Conservatorio Nacional de Buenos Aires, the Sofia State Academy of Music and INMM Darmstadt.
He published several texts in the music magazines “TON” of the Austria ISCM Section and in the editions of the Society oof Music & aesthetics (Freiburg i. d. Br.)
He is very active as a pedagogue and gives master classes in conducting in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Colombia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Italy. A large number of his students won several competitions and are nowadays active (also in leading positions) at various orchestral and opera stages in Europe and USA.
For his last CD – Production as composer skin.double he received the publicity award of SKE austro mechana.
Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin
Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin (*1968 in Mocsow) studied composition with Boguslaw Schaeffer and piano with Alfons Kontarsky, Dimo Dimov and Boyan Vodenitcharov at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and at the State Music Academy in Sofia.
In 2007, her violin concerto “Mahagony”, written during the stay at the artist residency MacDowell Colony, was premiered by David Bowlin in the Carnegie Hall. The Bowlin´s latest CD (2019 New York) includes two of her works.
Her orchestra piece „Annäherung“, comissioned by the Government of Salzburg was recorded by the Mozarteum Orchestra under Johannes Kalitzke and presented in the “Viva!Mozart” exhibition in Salzburg celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday. Her latest orchestra piece "TARSIS" (2019) was nominated for the Rychenberg Competition and recorded by the Musikkollegium Winterthur conducted by Pierre-Alain Monot.
Performances of Karastoyanova-Hermentin´s works have been held in the Musikverein, ACFNY, “Chamber Series” of the CSO, Merkin Concert Hall, Nordic House Torshavn, State Opera Donetsk, Parliament of Canada, Palácio da Justiça Manaus, Flagey Brussels, Megaron Athene as well as in the festivals Ultraschall Berlin, Klangspuren, Warsaw Autumn, Kyiv Music Fest. Her compositions have been interpreted by Oswald Sallaberger, David Fulmer, Nacho de Paz, Lars Mlekusch, David Bowlin, Katinka Kleijn, Jonathan Vinocour, Artem Nyzhnyk, Hayk Melikyan as well as by many ensembles including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble New York, the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra, the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Zaporozhje, PHACE, oenm Salzburg, Stadler Quartett, Wiener Collage, die Reihe, Da Capo Chamber Players.
Ms. Karastoyanova-Hermentin has received commissions from Konzerthaus Vienna, WDR, Siemens Music Foundation, ORF - the Austrian Broadcasting, Aspekte Festival. Her music has been recognized with the Austrian State Prize “Outstanding Artist Award 2013 Musik”, the State Composers Grant (2001,2006, 2010), the Promotion Prize of the City Vienna, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Grant, the Composers Grant of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, the Annual Grant of the Government of Salzburg, Theodor-Körner Award for Art and Science. She is recipient of the "Aaron Copland" fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in the USA and winner of the Young Composers Project of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Her music appears on CD labels - Capriccio, Gramola, New Focus Recordings, Austrian Broadcasting.
She has performed as a pianist both in the field of classical and contemporary music, a.o. as a soloist with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, in festivals such as Aspekte Salzburg, Hörgänge Wien (Konzerthaus Vienna), Sofia summer, Skopsko leto.
In 2007, her violin concerto “Mahagony”, written during the stay at the artist residency MacDowell Colony, was premiered by David Bowlin in the Carnegie Hall. The Bowlin´s latest CD (2019 New York) includes two of her works.
Her orchestra piece „Annäherung“, comissioned by the Government of Salzburg was recorded by the Mozarteum Orchestra under Johannes Kalitzke and presented in the “Viva!Mozart” exhibition in Salzburg celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday. Her latest orchestra piece "TARSIS" (2019) was nominated for the Rychenberg Competition and recorded by the Musikkollegium Winterthur conducted by Pierre-Alain Monot.
Performances of Karastoyanova-Hermentin´s works have been held in the Musikverein, ACFNY, “Chamber Series” of the CSO, Merkin Concert Hall, Nordic House Torshavn, State Opera Donetsk, Parliament of Canada, Palácio da Justiça Manaus, Flagey Brussels, Megaron Athene as well as in the festivals Ultraschall Berlin, Klangspuren, Warsaw Autumn, Kyiv Music Fest. Her compositions have been interpreted by Oswald Sallaberger, David Fulmer, Nacho de Paz, Lars Mlekusch, David Bowlin, Katinka Kleijn, Jonathan Vinocour, Artem Nyzhnyk, Hayk Melikyan as well as by many ensembles including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble New York, the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra, the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Zaporozhje, PHACE, oenm Salzburg, Stadler Quartett, Wiener Collage, die Reihe, Da Capo Chamber Players.
Ms. Karastoyanova-Hermentin has received commissions from Konzerthaus Vienna, WDR, Siemens Music Foundation, ORF - the Austrian Broadcasting, Aspekte Festival. Her music has been recognized with the Austrian State Prize “Outstanding Artist Award 2013 Musik”, the State Composers Grant (2001,2006, 2010), the Promotion Prize of the City Vienna, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Grant, the Composers Grant of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, the Annual Grant of the Government of Salzburg, Theodor-Körner Award for Art and Science. She is recipient of the "Aaron Copland" fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in the USA and winner of the Young Composers Project of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Her music appears on CD labels - Capriccio, Gramola, New Focus Recordings, Austrian Broadcasting.
She has performed as a pianist both in the field of classical and contemporary music, a.o. as a soloist with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, in festivals such as Aspekte Salzburg, Hörgänge Wien (Konzerthaus Vienna), Sofia summer, Skopsko leto.
Pierluigi Billone
Born in 1960 in Italy, Pierluigi Billone lives in Vienna.
He studied composition with Salvatore Sciarrino and Helmut Lachenmann.
Billone's music is regularly performed by relevant interpreters in the most reputed New Music Festivals, and broadcasted by the most important radios in and beyond Europe
His works received international awards such as the Kompositionspreis der Stadt Stuttgart (Stuttgart 1993), the Busoni-Kompositionspreis (Academy of Arts Berlin 1996) the Wiener Internationaler Kompositionspreis (Vienna 2004), the Ernst-Krenek-Preis (Vienna 2006), and the Kompositionspreis der Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung (Munich 2010).
Pierluigi Billone has been guest professor for composition at the Music University Graz, Music University Frankfurt and at the Escola Superior de Música de Barcellona.
He is regularly invited as teacher and lecturer in composition courses such as: IEMA-Ensemble Modern Akademie 2008. Harvard University 2010. Columbia University NY 2010. MCME International Academy Russland 2011. Ferienkurse Darmstadt 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. Impulse Akademie Graz 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Tzlil Meducan Israel 2011, 2014, 2015. MCIC Madrid 2015, 2016. Boston University 2015. New York University 2015. Composit-Rieti 2015, 2016, 2017. Royaumont Voix Nouvelles 2016. Kalv Academy-Sweden 2018.
The works of Pierluigi Billone appear on the Kairos, Stradivarius, Col-legno, Durian, EMSA and Ein_Klang labels.
He studied composition with Salvatore Sciarrino and Helmut Lachenmann.
Billone's music is regularly performed by relevant interpreters in the most reputed New Music Festivals, and broadcasted by the most important radios in and beyond Europe
His works received international awards such as the Kompositionspreis der Stadt Stuttgart (Stuttgart 1993), the Busoni-Kompositionspreis (Academy of Arts Berlin 1996) the Wiener Internationaler Kompositionspreis (Vienna 2004), the Ernst-Krenek-Preis (Vienna 2006), and the Kompositionspreis der Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung (Munich 2010).
Pierluigi Billone has been guest professor for composition at the Music University Graz, Music University Frankfurt and at the Escola Superior de Música de Barcellona.
He is regularly invited as teacher and lecturer in composition courses such as: IEMA-Ensemble Modern Akademie 2008. Harvard University 2010. Columbia University NY 2010. MCME International Academy Russland 2011. Ferienkurse Darmstadt 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. Impulse Akademie Graz 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Tzlil Meducan Israel 2011, 2014, 2015. MCIC Madrid 2015, 2016. Boston University 2015. New York University 2015. Composit-Rieti 2015, 2016, 2017. Royaumont Voix Nouvelles 2016. Kalv Academy-Sweden 2018.
The works of Pierluigi Billone appear on the Kairos, Stradivarius, Col-legno, Durian, EMSA and Ein_Klang labels.
Reinhard Fuchs
Reinhard Fuchs, born in 1974, first studied accordion at the Bruckner-Conservatory Linz (1991-1995). After that he completed his studies in composition with Michael Jarrell (1995 - 2002) at the University of Music in Vienna. 1997/98, Fuchs attended studies at the University of Miami in Florida. Courses with B. Ferneyhoug h, M. Stroppa, M. Lindberg, K. Huber were further important stimuli for his work.
Next to commissions of renowned ensembles and organizers, Reinhard Fuchs can also refer to numerous international prices and distinctions (1st prize at the 7th international composition competition Salzburg, the 2nd prize at "stasis et vita" / Germany, the special prize of the Foundation Royaumont / FRA, 2001 the Anton-Bruckner- Prize, 2003 austrian grant for composers).
In 1997, he founded together with colleges the composers group GEGENKLANG.
His works were performed by ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, RSO Wien, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Basel Sinfonietta, Les Percussion de Strasbourg, Arditti Quartet, Wiener Klaviertrio, Trio Amos,… & by conductors such as Johannes Kalitzke, Matthias Pintscher, Beat Furrer, Sebastian Gottschick, Fabrice Bollon, Annu Tali, Susanna Mälkki… at Festivals such as Wien Modern, Salzburger Festspiele, Musiktage Donaueschingen, Musikprotokoll at Steirischer Herbst, Hörgänge, Konzerthaus Berlin, Contemporary Music Festival Alicante, Soundings London, Warehouse London, Festival Latinoamericano de Musica (Caracas / Venezuela), New Music Festival Sound Ways (St. Petersburg / Russia), Venezuela Festival Internacional „a tempo“ (Caracas / Venezuela)...
Since 2008, Reinhard Fuchs is artistic director and general manager of PHACE (www.phace.at).
In 2014, Reinhard Fuchs receives the Erste-Bank-Composition-Prize.
Next to commissions of renowned ensembles and organizers, Reinhard Fuchs can also refer to numerous international prices and distinctions (1st prize at the 7th international composition competition Salzburg, the 2nd prize at "stasis et vita" / Germany, the special prize of the Foundation Royaumont / FRA, 2001 the Anton-Bruckner- Prize, 2003 austrian grant for composers).
In 1997, he founded together with colleges the composers group GEGENKLANG.
His works were performed by ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, RSO Wien, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Basel Sinfonietta, Les Percussion de Strasbourg, Arditti Quartet, Wiener Klaviertrio, Trio Amos,… & by conductors such as Johannes Kalitzke, Matthias Pintscher, Beat Furrer, Sebastian Gottschick, Fabrice Bollon, Annu Tali, Susanna Mälkki… at Festivals such as Wien Modern, Salzburger Festspiele, Musiktage Donaueschingen, Musikprotokoll at Steirischer Herbst, Hörgänge, Konzerthaus Berlin, Contemporary Music Festival Alicante, Soundings London, Warehouse London, Festival Latinoamericano de Musica (Caracas / Venezuela), New Music Festival Sound Ways (St. Petersburg / Russia), Venezuela Festival Internacional „a tempo“ (Caracas / Venezuela)...
Since 2008, Reinhard Fuchs is artistic director and general manager of PHACE (www.phace.at).
In 2014, Reinhard Fuchs receives the Erste-Bank-Composition-Prize.
Šimon Voseček
Šimon Voseček (13 April 1978) is an Austrian-Czech composer. He is known for his opera "Biedermann und die Brandstifter" ("Biedermann and the Arsonists", (2005-2007; 2013; 2015), which was premiered in Vienna by Neue Oper Wien in 2013).
Ulrich Drechsler
The award-winning saxophonist & bass clarinetist Ulrich Drechsler has been working as a freelance musician & composer in the field of contemporary improvised music and film music both nationally and internationally. His successful projects include the band "Café Drechsler", duets with the pianists Tord Gustavsen and Stefano Battaglia, the Ulrich Drechsler cello quartet, etc. with whom he has performed all over the world. He is under contract at the major label UNIVERSAL MUSIC as well as the renowned German jazz label ENJA YELLOWBIRD. In his workshops and courses, he places special emphasis on the support and development of the artistic individuality and authenticity of the students in addition to the instrumental aspects.
Anthony Green
The creative output of Anthony R. Green (composer, performer, social justice) includes musical and visual creations, interpretations of original, contemporary, and repertoire works, collaborations, educational outreach, and more. Behind all his artistic endeavors are the ideals of equality and freedom. His compositions and projects have been presented in 20+ countries by various internationally acclaimed soloists and ensembles, such as pianists Hayk Melikyan and Eunmi Ko, the American Composers Orchestra, the Keuris Saxophone Quartet, NOISE-BRIDGE, and Alarm Will Sound, to name a few. As a performer, he has appeared at venues across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, presenting piano and chamber music recitals, interdisciplinary and experimental performances, and lecture-recitals that fuse performance with research. Green’s most important social justice work has been with Castle of our Skins: celebrating Black Artistry through Music.
Clemens Gadenstätter
Clemens Gadenstätter, born in 1966, studied composition in Vienna and then Stuttgart under Helmut Lachenmann. He teaches at the University of Music Graz as a professor of Analysis, Music Theory, and Composition.
Gadenstätter's musical undertaking explores the compositional resynthesis of perception, sensation and feeling. For him, this should bring together the trinity of listening, comprehension, and composition.
His recent work concerns: the transformation of acoustically triggered, pre-formed feelings (in the series E.P.O.S.: les premiers cris, les cris des lumières, les derniers cris for different ensemble arrangements); the notion of the banal (in the pieces Semantical Investigations 1&2, as well as the essay "Was heißt hier banal" [What do we mean banal?]); the poly-modality of listening (in häuten, schlitzen for string quartet 1&2, ES for voice and ensemble); as well as musical iconography (in the series ICONOSONICS 1 – 3). His larger works thematize these ideas in multimedia form, such as daily transformations for voice, ensemble, electronics, text, and film, with Lisa Spalt (text) and Anna Henckel-Donnersmark (film).
Gadenstätter"s work has been commissioned by:
The Donaueschingen Festival, Musik der Jahrhunderte - Stuttgart, WDR - Witten Days for New Chamber Music, Wien Modern, ORF/RSO (The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra), Musikbiennale Berlin, Salzburg Festspiele, Musikbiennale Salzburg, Steirischer Herbst, Ultima - Oslo, and more.
Gadenstätter's musical undertaking explores the compositional resynthesis of perception, sensation and feeling. For him, this should bring together the trinity of listening, comprehension, and composition.
His recent work concerns: the transformation of acoustically triggered, pre-formed feelings (in the series E.P.O.S.: les premiers cris, les cris des lumières, les derniers cris for different ensemble arrangements); the notion of the banal (in the pieces Semantical Investigations 1&2, as well as the essay "Was heißt hier banal" [What do we mean banal?]); the poly-modality of listening (in häuten, schlitzen for string quartet 1&2, ES for voice and ensemble); as well as musical iconography (in the series ICONOSONICS 1 – 3). His larger works thematize these ideas in multimedia form, such as daily transformations for voice, ensemble, electronics, text, and film, with Lisa Spalt (text) and Anna Henckel-Donnersmark (film).
Gadenstätter"s work has been commissioned by:
The Donaueschingen Festival, Musik der Jahrhunderte - Stuttgart, WDR - Witten Days for New Chamber Music, Wien Modern, ORF/RSO (The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra), Musikbiennale Berlin, Salzburg Festspiele, Musikbiennale Salzburg, Steirischer Herbst, Ultima - Oslo, and more.
Oliver Weber
Oliver Weber studied musicology at the University of Zurich as well as organ with Janine Lehmann and private composition lessons with Rudolf Kelterborn in Basel. Following his completion of this program, he began instrumental and electroacoustic composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Michael Jarrell, Dieter Kaufmann and Wolfgang Mitterer. Since 2004, Weber regularly performs as an interpreter of his own and electronic works as well as an improviser at home and abroad including: Wien Modern, SICMF South Korea, New Music Week Shanghai, Electronic Spring Vienna, Grabenfesttage Wien, Kulturfestival Origen, Ensemble Nikel, RSO Vienna, Ensemble Phace, and many others in Europe.Weber has been comminsioned by many prestiguos organizations including: Wien Modern, sirene Operntheater, progetto semiserio, Central European Chamber Orchestra MIKAMO, Kulturfestival Origen, Duo Iridolon, Kammertonquartett, The Black Page Orchestra, Soyuz21, Lars Mlekusch, Valentin Johannes Gloor and others.
As a collaborative artist, he has work with the Aargau Kuratorium, Theodor Körner Prize, state scholarships for the composition of the Republic of Austria, several work grants from the BUKK Österreich and others. Participation in the International Young Composers Forum Brussels. 2013 Artist in Residence at the ICST in Zurich Oliver Weber lives and works professional as a composer, musician, and scholar in Vienna.
As a collaborative artist, he has work with the Aargau Kuratorium, Theodor Körner Prize, state scholarships for the composition of the Republic of Austria, several work grants from the BUKK Österreich and others. Participation in the International Young Composers Forum Brussels. 2013 Artist in Residence at the ICST in Zurich Oliver Weber lives and works professional as a composer, musician, and scholar in Vienna.
Diogo Carvalho
[program director]
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, composer Diogo Carvalho writes engaging concert music that communicates to contemporary audiences. Carvalho’s style was inspired by his electroacoustic music experience, Brazilian music background, and jazz. Carvalho has worked with the Unheard-of\\Ensemble, Bold City Contemporary Ensemble, Irvine Arditti, Boston String Quartet, Laurent Estoppey, Jeremy Huw Williams, Fonema Consort, Philipp Gerschlauer, Orquestra Jovem Tom Jobim, Hermeto Paschoal, Ulisses Rocha, César Camargo Mariano, and many others.
Notable honors include an Honorable Mention at the Juried Arts Exhibition for the University of Florida College of the Arts, a Certificate of Recognition for Advocacy in the Arts from the Florida Higher Education Arts Network, and a College Music Society’s David Kushner Student Paper Award. His album “Impressionism – Acoustic Guitar Solo”, was praised as “highly recommended” by the Classical Guitar Magazine. Carvalho was the Composer-in-Residence at the Harn Museum of Art for the 2018-2019 year.
Carvalho presented his current research on Steve Reich and narratives of identity at musicology conferences in Europe, Asia, and in the US. As a guitarist, Carvalho has presented his work in four continents and recorded three albums.
Carvalho serves the international composer’s community as the Director of the Composers Forum at the Vienna Summer Music Festival and the Artistic Director for the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival. Furthermore, with a strong knowledge of both organizational behavior and arts administration, Carvalho has been responsible for the facilitation of over $200,000 for student arts programs in the state of Florida, which brought in over 120 visiting guest artists for art, music, and dance programs.
Active as a music educator, Carvalho is currently Assistant Professor at Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. Carvalho’s experience educator includes a four-year appointment at the Municipal School of São Paulo and several courses taught at the University of Florida, including community outreach and upper-division classes. Carvalho earned a PhD in Composition at the University of Florida and his Masters and Bachelor of Music at the University of São Paulo.
Notable honors include an Honorable Mention at the Juried Arts Exhibition for the University of Florida College of the Arts, a Certificate of Recognition for Advocacy in the Arts from the Florida Higher Education Arts Network, and a College Music Society’s David Kushner Student Paper Award. His album “Impressionism – Acoustic Guitar Solo”, was praised as “highly recommended” by the Classical Guitar Magazine. Carvalho was the Composer-in-Residence at the Harn Museum of Art for the 2018-2019 year.
Carvalho presented his current research on Steve Reich and narratives of identity at musicology conferences in Europe, Asia, and in the US. As a guitarist, Carvalho has presented his work in four continents and recorded three albums.
Carvalho serves the international composer’s community as the Director of the Composers Forum at the Vienna Summer Music Festival and the Artistic Director for the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival. Furthermore, with a strong knowledge of both organizational behavior and arts administration, Carvalho has been responsible for the facilitation of over $200,000 for student arts programs in the state of Florida, which brought in over 120 visiting guest artists for art, music, and dance programs.
Active as a music educator, Carvalho is currently Assistant Professor at Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. Carvalho’s experience educator includes a four-year appointment at the Municipal School of São Paulo and several courses taught at the University of Florida, including community outreach and upper-division classes. Carvalho earned a PhD in Composition at the University of Florida and his Masters and Bachelor of Music at the University of São Paulo.
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APPLICATION INSTRUTIONS
Applicants for the Composers Forum should submit two original scores that best represent their skill as a composer; there are no stylistic restrictions.
All application materials including YouTube links, audio files, and scores should be submitted via a single link to an approved file sharing site such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud, or by mail to info@viennasummermusic.com. For questions regarding submitting via file sharing visit the application section of the FAQ page.
Scores should be submitted in PDF format, and recordings of these works should be submitted in MP3 or MIDI files. Files names should include the applicant’s first and last name, program of interest, and the creation date of the score and recording.(Example: Emily Brown_Composition Forum_08/18.MP3)
All applicants should receive an initial response in 3-5 business days.
An application fee of $35 is required for submission.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available, and will be awarded up to €1,500 to select applicants. For those applicants that are interested in applying for scholarship, a brief scholarship application essay of no more than 500 words answering the question, “What are your career goals, and how would a scholarship to the Vienna Summer Music Festival help you achieve those goals?”, and a list of references should be sent in addition to application materials. The subject line should contain the applicant’s first and last name, program of interest, and the text “Scholarship Essay.” Interested applicants will receive scholarship funds based upon their submitted audition materials and essay.
Scholarship Application Requirements:
1) 500 word Scholarship Essay answering, “What are your career goals, and how would a scholarship to the Vienna Summer Music Festival help you achieve those goals?”
2) A list of two to three references (please include contact information)
All scholarship application materials should be emailed to info@viennasummermusic.com.
Instrumental Composition Deadline: (extended) April 15, 2022
2019
The VSMF Composers Forum 2019 edition
Our 2019 edition had the premiere of Trimor Dhomi's opera and a set of fantastic pieces for PHACE ensemble. Participants enjoyed several tours, masterclasses, and lectures, including a guided visit to the Secession Building and a fantastic lecture by Schoenberg scholar Áine Heneghan.
The masterclasses and recording sessions with world renowned contemporary performer Irvine Arditti were a major highlight this year. Mr. Arditti was delighted to record VSMF composers' works.
2018
The VSMF Composers Forum 2018 edition
A very talented group attended our 2018 edition, having their music performed during two wonderful concerts by PHACE ensemble. Besides attending lectures, masterclasses, and PHACE rehearsals, participants enjoyed a guided tour at the Arnold Schoenberg Center, and attended several concerts in Konzerthaus and Odeon. Irvine Arditti joined the group for a few days, giving an interview, workshopping solo violin pieces, and giving a lecture on the history of the modern violin.