Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

1975 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

 

Kati Agócs is a Hungarian-Canadian composer who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. Born on October 28, 1975, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Agócs grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a pianist, and her father was a composer and conductor. From a young age, Agócs was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, including classical, jazz, and folk music. Agócs began her formal music education at the age of six, studying piano and theory. She later added violin and voice to her repertoire. In 1993, she enrolled in the music program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, where she studied composition with Peter Hatch and Glenn Buhr. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in 1997. After completing her undergraduate studies, Agócs moved to Boston to pursue a Master of Music degree at the New England Conservatory of Music. There, she studied with Michael Gandolfi and John Harbison. She also had the opportunity to work with renowned composers such as György Ligeti and Steve Reich. Agócs's early works were heavily influenced by her Hungarian heritage. She often incorporated folk melodies and rhythms into her compositions. One of her earliest works, "Three Hungarian Folk Songs," was written for string quartet and premiered in 1996. The piece features traditional Hungarian melodies and dance rhythms, but with a modern twist. In 1999, Agócs received a Fulbright Scholarship to study composition in Hungary. While there, she worked with composer György Kurtág and studied Hungarian folk music. This experience had a profound impact on her music, and she began to incorporate more experimental techniques into her compositions. Agócs's music is characterized by its intricate textures, complex rhythms, and use of extended techniques. She often uses unconventional instruments, such as the cimbalom (a Hungarian hammered dulcimer) and the theremin (an electronic instrument played without physical contact). Her compositions also often feature vocal elements, including choral and solo singing. One of Agócs's most notable works is "The Debrecen Passion," a large-scale oratorio for choir, soloists, and orchestra. The piece was commissioned by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and premiered in 2007. It tells the story of the Passion of Christ through the eyes of a Hungarian community during World War II. The work features traditional Hungarian folk melodies, as well as texts in Hungarian, Latin, and English. Another significant work by Agócs is "Requiem Fragments," a choral work that explores themes of loss and mourning. The piece was commissioned by the Tanglewood Music Center and premiered in 2011. It features texts from various sources, including the Latin Mass for the Dead and the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. Agócs has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Guggenheim Fellowship. She has also been commissioned by many prestigious organizations, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Kronos Quartet, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. In addition to her work as a composer, Agócs is also an accomplished educator. She has taught at several institutions, including the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto. She is currently a professor of composition at the New England Conservatory of Music.

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