Chiyoko Szlavnics

Born 1967 in Toronto.

Chiyoko Szlavnics is a composer and saxophonist working both in Europe and in Canada. After graduating from the University of Toronto in 1989, she was a member of Hemispheres Music Projects (1992-1997) and 40 fingers saxophone quartet (1994-1998) in Toronto, contributing several compositions to both
ensembles. During that period, she studied composition with James Tenney.

Szlavnics’ works have been performed at numerous festivals and concerts by ensembles which include Arraymusic, Surplus (Éclat Festival, Stuttgart), Quartett Avance (Darmstadt), New Music Concerts, Quatuor Bozzini (Maerzmusik, and other concert series), Ensemble Zwischentöne, and Wandelweiser. Some of these concerts were recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, SDR, Deutschland Radio, and Swiss Radio.

Since receiving the Solitude fellowship, Szlavnics has been based in Berlin, where she continues to work with contemporary ensembles and musicians, with a particular focus on microtonality and just intonation. She is currently Co-Artistic director, with Peter Ablinger, of Ensemble Zwischentöne.