Amir Shpilman (; born December 4, 1980) is an Israeli

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

Education and career

Shpilman was born in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

where he started his composition studies at the age of 17. After three years in Paris where he studied solfege, harmony piano and composition, he moved to the United States, in 2006, to study at the

City University of New York The City University of New York (CUNY, pronounced , ) is the Public university, public university system of Education in New York City, New York City. It is the largest urban university system in the United States, comprising 25 campuses: eleven ...

where he obtained a bachelor's degree in music composition under the tutelage of

Tania León Tania León (born May 14, 1943) is a Cuban-born American composer of both large-scale and chamber works. She is also renowned as a conductor, educator, and advisor to arts organizations. Early years and education She was born Tania Justina Leó ...

Jason Eckardt Jason Eckardt (born 17 May 1971 in Princeton, New Jersey) is an American composer. He began his musical life playing guitar in heavy metal and jazz bands and abruptly moved to composing after discovering the music of Anton Webern. Compositions ...

and with close mentorship of pianist

Ursula Oppens Ursula Oppens (born February 2, 1944) is an American classical concert pianist and educator. She has received five Grammy Award nominations. Biography Ursula Oppens was born on February 2, 1944, in New York City into a highly musical family fr ...

. He received his master's degree in composition with a focus on conducting from the

Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber The Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber (or Dresden University of Music Carl Maria von Weber; also/formerly known as Dresden Conservatory or Dresden Royal Conservatory) is a university school of music, university of music in Dresden, ...

Dresden Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...

under the tutelage of

Mark Andre Mark Andre (born 10 May 1964) is a French composer living in Germany. He was known as "Marc André", his birth name, until 2007, when he formally revised the spelling. He lives in Berlin. Andre's compositions ''durch'' (2006), ''...auf... III'' (2 ...

Manos Tsangaris Manos Tsangaris (born 8 December 1956) is a German composer, musician, sound art installation and performance artist, and a poet. Life Born in Düsseldorf, Tsangaris studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln from 1976 to 1983 composit ...

, and

Franz Martin Olbrisch Franz may refer to: People * Franz (given name) * Franz (surname) Places * Franz (crater), a lunar crater * Franz, Ontario, a railway junction and unorganized town in Canada * Franz Lake, in the state of Washington, United States – see Fran ...

. In 2011, He founded the Ensemble Moto Perpetuo, a New York-based chamber orchestra specializing in contemporary music and collaborative creations, and served as its artistic director until 2015. During his career, Shpilman has worked with a variety of performers, orchestras, and ensembles including the Ensemble Intercontemporain (Paris),

International Contemporary Ensemble The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) is a contemporary classical music ensemble, based in New York City. ICE performs a diverse and extensive array of chamber, electro-acoustic, improvisatory, and multimedia works. History The Internati ...

(New York), Mivos Quartet, Ensembles Meitar and Nikel (Tel Aviv), Interface (Frankfurt), AuditivVokal Dresden, El Perro Andaluz (Dresden), Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble (Leipzig), LUX:NM and Ensemble Mosaik (Berlin); Ensembles Reconsil and Platypus (Vienna) and more. Among his collaborators are laureate of the Sapir Prize for literature author Reuven Namdar, sound sculptor Hans van Koolwijk, visual artist and designer Ghiora Aharoni, poet

Nadja Küchenmeister Nadja Küchenmeister (born 18 April 1981 in East-Berlin) is a German poet and writer. Life and work Küchenmeister grew up in Berlin where she still lives. She studied German studies and sociology at the Berlin Institute of Technology as wel ...

and more. In April 2013, ''Hedef'', a piece for large ensemble, won the Jury Prize at the

Heidelberger Frühling The Heidelberger Frühling was founded in 1997 as a classical music festival and has since developed into a year-round cultural institution that conceives and organises festivals, concert series and conferences with internationally established pe ...

festival conducted by

Matthias Pintscher Matthias Pintscher (born 29 January 1971) is a German composer, conductor and academic teacher. Biography Pintscher was born in Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia. As a youth, he studied the violin and conducting. He began his music studies with Gise ...

. In October 2014, Ensemble Intercontemporain premiered his large work ''Iridescent Stasis'' at the

Venice Biennial The Venice Biennale ( ; ) is an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy. There are two main components of the festival, known as the Art Biennale () and the Venice Biennale of Architecture, Architecture Biennale (), ...

and in 2016, Shpilman was selected to represent Germany at the

European Capital of Culture A European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union (EU) for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong pan-European dimension. Being a European Capital of Culture can ...

, in

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

, premiering his piece ''Destruction'' for choir and large orchestra. The open-air concert took place on the banks of the

Oder The Oder ( ; Czech and ) is a river in Central Europe. It is Poland's second-longest river and third-longest within its borders after the Vistula and its largest tributary the Warta. The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows through wes ...

river, with a crowd of 140,000 spectators. His music is published by Edition Gravis.

Compositions

Stage works

* ''TIFERET'' (2017) new music theater; for 2-4 dancers, 5-7 vocal soloists, 30 voice choir, Dynamic Speakers and electronics; Commission of the

Maxim Gorki Theater The Maxim Gorki Theatre () is a theatre in Berlin-Mitte named after the Soviet writer Maxim Gorky. In 2012, the Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit named Şermin Langhoff as the artist director of the theatre. History It is the oldest concert hall bui ...

, Premiered in the Maxim Gorki Theater, Studio Я in Berlin by dancers Elena Kilchitskaya, Yotam Peled, vocal soloists AuditivVokal Dresden conducted by Olaf Katzer, and the Carl-von-Ossietzky choir conducted by Berit Kramer * ''Images'' (2017) for accordion, saxophone and soprano; Commission of FrauVonDa as part of the Musiktheater project TaxiMusic; Premiered at Acker Stadt Palast by LUX:NM and Mezzo-Soprano Claudia Van Hasselt * ''Situation Object 2'' (2017) for 2 dancers and ensemble of vocal soloists; Commission of the

, Premiered in Studio Я, Berlin by Dancers Elena Kilchitskaya, Yotam Peled, and AuditivVokal Dresden * ''Here I am, Send me!'' (2013) A cappella for 20 vocal soloists; Commission of LABA, 14th St Y Theater NYC, fully staged theatrical performance in 2014 at the 250th anniversary celebrations of

Dresden Academy of Fine Arts The Dresden Academy of Fine Arts (German language, German ''Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden''), often abbreviated HfBK Dresden or simply HfBK, is a vocational university of visual arts located in Dresden, Germany. The present institutio ...

, Conducted by Amir Shpilman

Orchestral works

* ''Inmitten des Lebens'' (2017) for baroque orchestra (period instruments), mixed choir and six vocal soloists; Original Text by

; Commission of Freiberger Dom, Premiered in the

Freiberg Cathedral The Freiberg Cathedral or Cathedral of St Mary () is a church of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony in Freiberg, Saxony, Freiberg in Saxony. The term Duomo, Dom, a German synecdoche used for collegiate churches and cathedrals alike, is ofte ...

, Germany by Freiberger DomChor, Ensemble Freiberger Dom-Music and the Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble * ''Destruction'' (2015/16) for symphony orchestra and large choir; Commission of the

, Wrocław 2016; Premiered in an open air concert on the banks of the

river in

, Poland * ''Sh’ma'' (2010) for orchestra; Premiered at the

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts was an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization located on the campus of Brooklyn College, founded in 1954. The Brooklyn Center presented multiple disciplinary arts performances and coord ...

by the Brooklyn College Orchestra, Conducted by

Mark Rothman Mark Harvey Rothman (born November 1, 1947) is an American writer best known for having been involved with the creation and production of '' Laverne and Shirley.'' He was also the head writer and show runner of numerous other shows including ''Ha ...

* ''Nir’s Theme'' (2005) for Orchestra

Ensemble works

* ''Indestruction'' (2019) composition for ensemble and Dynamic Speakers; Commission of Ensemble Mosaik and the Adele and John Gray Endowment Fund; Premiered at Kesselhaus Kulturbrauerei in Berlin by Ensemble Mosaik and conducted by

Enno Poppe Enno Poppe (born 30 December 1969 in Hemer, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German composer and conductor of classical music, and an academic teacher. Career Enno Poppe studied composition and conducting at the Universität der Künste Berlin, Ho ...

* ''Iridescent Stasis'' (2014) for large ensemble; Commission of Ensemble Intercontemporain and La

Biennale di Venezia The Venice Biennale ( ; ) is an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy. There are two main components of the festival, known as the Art Biennale () and the Architecture Biennale (), which are held in alternating ye ...

; Premiered by Ensemble Intercontemporain, conducted by Jean-Michaël Lavoie * ''Hedef'' (2013) for large ensemble; Commission of the

(Heidelberg Spring Festival); Premiered by Ensemble of the young composers academy conducted by

* ''Collective Improvisation 1'' (2011) for large ensemble and four laptops; Premiered by Ensemble Moto Perpetuo at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York

Chamber music

* ''Die Weiße Stadt'' (2019) woodwind quartet; Commission of Ensemble diX in celebration of 100 years of the

Bauhaus movement The Staatliches Bauhaus (), commonly known as the , was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined crafts and the fine arts.Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 4th edn., 2009), , pp. 64� ...

; Premiered at the

Lindenau-Museum The Lindenau-Museum is an art museum in Altenburg, Thuringia, Germany. It originated as the house-museum of baron and collector Bernhard August von Lindenau. The building was completed in 1876. The museum's main attraction is its collection of ...

Altenburg by Ensemble Dix * ''Spins 2'' (2019) for solo flute and electronics; Commission of Kulturkontakt Austria (OeAD) and Platypus Ensemble; World premiere at

Wien Modern Wien Modern is a modern music festival in Vienna, Austria that was founded by Claudio Abbado in 1988. It was created with the intent of revitalizing the traditional music scene of Vienna. Friedrich Cerha, Johannes Maria Staud, Mark Andre, Wolfg ...

Festival * ''Entangled'' (2019) for trio of open instrumentation and electronics; Commission of Ensemble Mosaik; Premiered at Acker Stadt Palast in Berlin * ''Spins'' (2016) for saxophone and percussion (open instrumentation); Commission of Ensemble Nikel and the Tzlil Meudcan Festival; Premiered at the Teiva Theater in Jaffa, Israel by Patrick Stadler and Brian Archinal * ''Resisim'' (2015) for baritone and ensemble; Commission of the

DeutschlandFunk Deutschlandfunk (DLF, ''Broadcast Germany'') is a public-broadcasting radio station in Germany, concentrating on news and current affairs. It is one of the four national radio channels produced by Deutschlandradio. History Broadcasting in t ...

– Forum Neuer Musik for the project Mekomot; Premiered at the Ehemalige Synagoge Stavenhagen in Germany * ''Echad'' (2014) for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello; Commission of Heidelberger Frühling (Heidelberg Spring Festival); Premiered by Meitar Ensemble, conducted by

* '' Sheketak'' (2011) for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello; Premiered in New York by

* ''Kol Nidrei'' (2011) for clarinet and two pianos; Premiered at the

Brooklyn College Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn in New York City, United States. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls nearly 14,000 students on a campus in the Midwood and Flatbush sections of Brooklyn as of fall ...

, mentored by pianist

* ''As if These Clouds'' (2010) for 6 percussionists; Premiered at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York and at the

Donaueschinger Musiktage The Donaueschingen Festival, or more precisely ''Donaueschingen Music Days'' (), is a three-day October event presenting new music in the town of the same name, where the Danube River starts, at the edge of the Black Forest in southern Germany. F ...

in 2014 * ''Abashment'' (2009) for solo trombone, violin, viola, cello, contrabass; Premiered at

by trombonist David Whitwell and Mivos String Quartet * ''Asymptote 2'' (2009) for flute/pic, clarinet, b. trombone, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, contra-Bass; Premiered at

Vocal music

* ''Situation Object 3'' "Delivery" (2020) for solo soprano; Commission of Concepts of Doing/Berlin Edition - Festival Zeitgenössische Musik; World premiere at Studioboerne45, Berlin, by Soprano Sirje Aleksandra Viise * ''Esh'' (2019) for chamber choir SATB a cappella; Commission of Junges Ensemble Dresden; World premiere at Weinbergskirsche, Dresden/Trachenberg, Germany * ''Malleable Images'' (2017) for ensemble of vocal soloists; Commission of AuditivVokal Dresden; Premiered at the

Albertinum The Albertinum () is a modern art museum. The sandstone-clad Renaissance Revival architecture, Renaissance Revival building is located on Brühl's Terrace in the historic center of Dresden, Germany. It is named after King Albert, King of Saxony, A ...

Museum, Lichthof, Dresden, conducted by Olaf Katzer * ''Malleable Cycle'' (2017) for large choir; Commission of AuditivVokal Dresden; Premiered in Chorfestival Meißen klingt; World premiere by 200 voice choir at the Meißen Domplatz, Germany * ''Situation Object'' (2014) for solo soprano; Commission of

Town Hall Seattle Town Hall Seattle, or Town Hall locally, is a cultural center and performance hall located on Seattle, Washington, USA's First Hill at 1119 8th Ave. Built as Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Seattle, a Church of Christ, Scientist church, fro ...

; Premiered at Town Hall Seattle by Mary Mackenzie (mezzo-soprano); * ''Here I am, Send me!'' (2013) A cappella for 20 vocal soloists; Commission of LABA, 14th St Y Theater NYC * ''Darkness'' (2012) for piano and baritone; Commission of the Frankfurt

Alte Oper Alte Oper (Old Opera) is a concert hall in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany. It is located in the inner city, Innenstadt, within the banking district Bankenviertel. Today's Alte Oper was built in 1880 as the city's opera house, which was destr ...

; Premiered by baritone Leigh Melrose and pianist Anna Tillbrook * ''All is one'' (2010) for large symphonic choir; Premiered at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, conducted by Vince Peterson * ''Kiri / White Mist'' (2008) for mezzo-soprano and piano; Poem by Midori Higashijo; Premiered at Brooklyn Performing Arts Center by Mezzo Soprano Fabienne Seveillac and pianist Masako Yokouchi * ''In Their Memory'' (2007) for chamber choir, premiered at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, conducted by Jonathan Babcock

Other works

* ''Open Closed Open'' (2018/19) a multimedia installation with Dynamic Speakers; Commission of the

Jewish Museum Berlin The Jewish Museum Berlin (''Jüdisches Museum Berlin'') was opened in 2001 and is the largest Jewish museum in Europe. On of floor space, the museum presents the history of the Jews in Germany from the Middle Ages to the present day, with new foc ...

, * ''Touch Space'' (2018) an immersive music installation in a 72 hours party in About Blank nightclub * ''Canto'' (2018) sound installation with Dynamic Speakers as part of CANTO XVIII, an immersive multidisciplinary salon & gala at the American Irish Historical Society, New York * ''Klangmøbil''(2015) a collaborative artistic research about the relationship between sound production, movement, and matter resulted in a set of mobile sound sculptures, designed uniquely for performances and sound installations

Awards

Shpilman has received several awards, including: * The Dagesh KunstLab Prize for the work ''Open, Closed, Open'', at the Jewish Museum Berlin, in 2018 * First Place (Jury prize, Young Composers Academy) for his piece ''Hedef'' at the Heidelberg Spring Festival, in 2013

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shpilman, Amir 1980 births Living people 21st-century Israeli classical composers Israeli composers Experimental composers Musicians from Tel Aviv