The Composers
Asuza Yomogida, Japan, Autana III
Azusa Yomogida began playing the piano when she was four years old, and began composing when she was just 14. She graduated from Shobi University in Music Media at the top of her class.
Asuza has taken part in a number of prestigious composition competitions worldwide, including Future in Tokyo, Festival Futura in France and the international electronic music festival Silence 2008 in Italy.
She participated in IRCAM Stage Overview Program in Paris in July this year and has also been studying Electroacoustic music with Eric Daubresse, Gregoire Lorieux, Emmanuel Jourdan, Jean Lochard, and Mikhail Malt.
Marc Garcia Vitoria, Spain, Plastic Trio
Marc Garcia Vitoria studied composition at the ESMUC in Barcelona and then went on to obtain an MA in Music Composition and Theory at the Haute Ecole de Musique of Geneva, specialising in Electroacoustic and Instrumental Composition.
His pieces have been played by ensembles such as Ensemble Contrechamps, Ensemble Linea, Ensemble Intercontemprain and Trio de Magia.
In 2007 he represented the ESMUC at the 6emes recontres internationales de composition musicale de Cergy-Pontoise, where he obtained the jury prize for his piece L'union libre. He recently received a commission for a piece by the Institut Valencia de la Musica, and is now working on a new piece for Ensemble Intercontemporain to be premiered in October 2011.
Dr. Shai Cohen, Israel, Circles of Time
Shai Cohen works as a teacher, composer and jazz performer. He studies composition with Professor Lewensohn Gideon and Professor Olivero Betty and composes symphonic music, chamber music, electronic music, and music for solo instruments.
In 2003 Shai became a lecturer at the Department of Music in Bar-llan University. He is also a lecturer at Levinsky College of Education and Open University, Music Department.
Among the performers of his music are distinguished musicians and ensembles such as SNU Symphony Orchestra (Korea), the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble (Russia), Toyko National University of Fine Arts and Music (Japan), ensemble Kaprizma (Israel), the Israel Contemporary Players and many others.
Christophe Looten, France, Quintet
Christophe Looten was a student of the Ecole du Louvre and gradauated from the Conservatoire de Paris. Having won numerous prizes, he began a career as a teacher, and was appointed Professor of Musical Analysis and History at the Regional Conservatoire of Limoges. After two years in residence at the Casa de Velazquez in Madrid, Christophe was awarded the Lavoisier Grant which enabled him to go to the United States, where he obtained several fellowships. Christophe has been Composer in Residence at many institutions including Wellesley University, Round Top Festival Institute and region Nord-Pas-de-Calais. He has won many prizes throughout his career and his First Symphony was presented by Radio France in 2000.
Zvonimir Nagy, USA, Ayres
Zvonimir Nagy was educated at the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb, Conservatoire Jacques Ibert, Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and Texas Christian University, completing his doctoral studies in music composition at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
Zvonimir is Assistant Professor of Musicianship Studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he teaches a forward-looking music theory curriculum.
A recipient of many music awards, fellowships and scholarships, both as a composer and performer, Zvonimir has received the distinguished Croatian Music Institute Award; Concours National de Piano de Paris, 1st prize; The Durington Composition Award; and Chopin International Piano Competition Texas, 1st prize - amongst many others.
