ao.Univ.-Prof. Simeon Pironkoff
Born 1965 in Sofia, Bulgaria
High school studies in Sofia until 1983
From 1985 to 1989 continuation of his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (composition with Erich Urbanner, conducting with Karl Österreicher)
From 1989 to 1992 freelance activities as conductor of numerous opera productions for European travelling theatres, contemporary music ensembles and independent stages, and many young symphony orchestras in Europe (performances in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria a.o.)
In 1992 he founded PHACE | contemporary music (former ensemble on_line vienna) which became in his position as artistic director and first conductor one of the most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria today (see http://www.phace.at/en/)
From 2000 to 2003 board member of the Austrian section of ISCM. He established and curated the chamber music series “FOKUS” at the Alte Schmiede – Hall in Vienna during this time. Numerous world premieres and Austrian premieres of the most important composers of the international contemporary scene had taken place during this time.
Since 1992 he is appointed to a professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna in the conducting department. Since 2002 Associate Professor in conducting.
His works have been performed at many major festivals and venues in Austria, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan (a.o. in tge frame of “generator – series” at Wiener Konzerthaus, Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Jeunesse Festival, Klangbogen, Sofia Music Weeks, Musica Nova Sofia, March Music Days (Rousse, Bulgaria), ZeitTon Festival, Steirischer Herbst, Musikforum Viktring/Carinthia, Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Rome), Salzburg Festival, MaerzMusik Berlin, Monmartre en Europe (Paris, France), bludenzer tage zeitgemaesser musik (Bludenz, Austria), pianissimo (Sofia), WDR (Essen Philharmonie), INMM Darmstadt, ISCM World Music Days and many more.
He received commissions and performed with ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, die reihe, Ensemble Wiener Collage, Newton ensemble, ensemble recherche (Freiburg, Germany), ensemble 2e2m (Paris), Vienna Saxophone Quartet, ensemble clarinetissimo, Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Bratislava, Symphonic Orchestra of the City of Gdansk/Poland, Orchestre Symphonique Pro Arte de Paris, Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico Città di Vicenza, Orchestra of the APA, Hong Kong, Wiener
Taschenoper, and many others.
For his work, he received several scholarships, promotions and prizes such as the Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis, Richard Wagner scholarship, the scholarship of the Alban Berg Foundation, the Working – Scholarship of the City of Vienna, the mentioned prize of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Austria, the Promotion Award of the City of Vienna, the Government Scholarship a.o.
He released (as composer and conductor) several CDs with works of the XXth and XXIth century and realised many broadcast transmissions and productions for the Austrian Radio Broadcasting ORF, the Bulgarian National Radio Broadcasting, Deutschlandfunk, Radio Municipal de Buenos Aires…
He gave many guest lectures at the Institute of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), the Conservatorio Nacional de Buenos Aires, the Sofia State Academy of Music and INMM Darmstadt. He published several texts in the music magazine "TON" of the Austria ISCM Section and the editions of the Society of Music & Aesthetics (Freiburg i. d. Br.)
He is very active as a pedagogue and gives master classes in conducting in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Hong Kong.
Orchestral conducting
New music