Zesses Seglias

Zesses Seglias is a composer of sonic bodies and lingual structures. His compositional output focuses on the relationship between the sound of voice and its semantic, as defined by language. Much of this repertoire is staged, although concert pieces also share the same principle. Latest compositional activity focuses on unifying musical and spoken language in a hybrid of sound and meaning described as spoken sound theatre.

Born in Edessa, Greece in 1984.

Studies in Composition and Music Theatre with Dr. Michalis Lapidakis at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2002–2008, Bachelor Degree), with Beat Furrer at the University for Music and Performing Arts Graz (2009–2011, Masters Degree) and with Dr. Dimitri Papageorgiou at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2012–2019, PhD). Postdoctoral Researcher at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2019–2021).

Selected as an active participant to master classes such as Voix Nouvelles Royaumont 2014, Tzlil Meudcan 2014, Centre Acanthes 2011, Tschaikovsky Academy 2012 and more (Darmstadt Summer Academy 2010, Impuls Academy 2011, 2013) with G. Aperghis, P. Billone, G. F. Haas, C. Czernowin, Μ. Andre, M. Stroppa, Ph. Hurel, K. Lang, P. Ablinger, J. Schölhorn, D. Kourliandski among others.

Performed in various cities in workshops and festivals by various ensembles and performers, such as D. Michel-Dansac, P.-S. Meuge, Klangforum Wien (AT), Diotima Quartet (F), the Helsinki Chamber Choir (FI), EXAUDI (GB), L’Instant Donné / Opus XXI Akademie (D–F), Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion (D), Schallfeld Ensemble (AT), Vertixe Sonora Ensemble (ES), UMS ‘n’ JIP (CH), and others.

In May 2014, his chamber opera hystéra (libretto by Sophie Reyer) was performed in Graz under the baton of Beat Furrer. In September 2014, his piece ΣΤΕΑΡ was performed during the Royaumont academy by Quatuor Diotima; the realisation of the live electronics was made by the composer and Greg Beller at IRCAM. In July 2012, his piece [α-] for chamber choir won him the 1st prize at the International Einojuhani Rautavaara Chamber Choir Composition Workshop and Competition 2012. In 2012 he was also prenominated for the Impuls Competition. After attending Impuls Academy 2013, he was awarded the Ernst Composition Prize, receiving a residency at the Ernst Krenek Institute in Krems and a commission for Klangforum Wien.

He was a finalist at the 6th and 7th Joseph Fux Opera Composition Competition. In August 2017, his opera To the Lighthouse (libretto by Ernst Binder) was premiered at the Bregenzer Festspiele, receiving rave reviews by magazines and newspapers such as Opernwelt, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. In November 2018 he staged the multimedia performance NAMPHAISE with Schallfeld Ensemble. In the same month his piece madrigali al vento e ai sospiri was premiered by Ensemble MusikFabrik.

Next season includes a triptych under the general title Conversations, with premieres and further performances in USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Greece and a new piece for PHACE (Vienna), as part of his residency at AIR Krems. He was a finalist at the International Composition Competition for Opera at the National Theatre Mannheim.

For 2023, he is commissioned by the Greek National Opera to compose a new music theatre piece based on Samuel Beckett’s Not I.

All of his studies have been funded by Greek Foundations, namely the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) and the Onassis Foundation.

He has taught Composition and Theory classes at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, the Moraitis Private School and many others.