Chiyoko Szlavnics is a Canadian composer, flutist and saxophonist, with an international career based in Berlin. She graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Music with Honours in 1989 (Flute Instructor: Douglas Stewart), after which she performed in numerous original music theatre productions and worked as a freelance musician in Toronto. In 1992, she joined Hemispheres Music Projects, and in 1993, began composing for this ensemble, as well as for her own trio Gohroh and contemporary dance projects in western Canada (New Dance Horizons). She became a founding member of 40 fingers saxophone quartet the following year, and began private studies with composer James Tenney. After her residency at the Akademie Schloß Solitude (Fellowship Grant 1997-98, Juror: Christian Wolff) in Stuttgart, Szlavnics relocated to Berlin, where she has maintained a professional and highly creative career composing for various ensembles both in Canada and Europe. She attended seminars by Walter Zimmerman in 1999-2001. She is currently co-artistic director with Austrian composer Peter Ablinger of Ensemble Zwischentöne in Berlin.
Szlavnics has composed for the following ensembles: 40 fingers, Arraymusic, Ensemble Zwischentöne, ERGO Music Projects, Hemispheres Music Projects, Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra, New Music Concerts, Quartett Avance, Quatuor Bozzini, Surplus and Wandelweiser Komponisten Ensemble.
Her works’ presenters in Europe have included: Akademie Schloß Solitude, Darmstadt International Ferienkurse, Ensemble Zwischentöne, ERGO Music Projects, Éclat Festival Neuer Musik, Freunde Guter Musik, Maerzmusik, Ostrava New Music Days, Podewil and Wanderweiser (among others).
July 2007