Polzhofer, Kai Johannes

Kai Johannes Polzhofer is one of the most interesting Austrian-German conductors and composers in his generation. His compositions explore the fragile nature of sound and move thereby through psycho-acoustical extremes, engage with topics of social communication, loss, historicity, transcendence and alterity, draw inspiration from mythological and religious archetypes.

One of the last Europeans, who received his conducting training at the prestigious Saint Petersburg Conservatory (last student of Aleksander Alekseev †), he also graduated with a PhD (and a full stipend) from Harvard University (under the guidance of Chaya Czernowin). Further studies and degrees in composition, philosophy, as well operatic and symphonic conducting in Graz, Leipzig (with Klaus Lang, Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, and Steven Kazuo Takasugi) and Copenhagen (under the guidance of Michael Schønwandt). Several national and international prizes and stipends. Personal selection to masterclasses and awards by a.o. Paavo and Neeme Järvi, Jorma Panula as well Daniele Gatti.

Evene before his conducting debut with the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra and graduation from National Soloist Class in Copenhagen (full production and musical direction of Leoš Janáček’s opera “The Cunning Little Vixen”), Kai Johannes Polzhofer was engaged as assistant at Bavarian State Opera, German Opera on the Rhine, and conducted concerts with a.o. soloists, chorus and orchestra of Opera Gothenburg, Mariinsky Theatre, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra as well Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra. Further engagements with Ensemble Gageego! (New Music Ensemble of Gothenburg Symphony) and Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop (Berlin).
His music was internationally broadcast (Bavarian Broadcast, National Austrian Broadcast OE1, Estonian National Broadcast among others) and his compositions were premiered by renown ensembles as Grammy-awarded Parker Quartet, Ensemble Mosaik, Elision Ensemble, Ensemble Recherche, Mivos Quartet, Ensemble Dal Niente, and „nation’s most important quartet” (The New York Times), the JACK Quartet.

Kai Johannes Polzhofer is passionate about bringing classical music to the next generation and founded in 2015 with Karen Cueva the DuBois Orchestra Harvard (a symphony orchestra – he served as Music Director for – creating diverse and progressive platforms for symphonic initiatives to fight racism, sexism and social injustice with and through classical music.) Kai Johannes Polzhofer is equally passionate about bringing contemporary arts to society and therefore initiated and co-founded forma Leipzig (Dialogue between New Music and contemporary literature for everyone).

He serves currently as co-director and curator of the Scandinavian-Austrian KLAR!festival.