Manolis Ekmektsoglou studied composition in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
Greece with Dimitri Papageorgiou and in the University of York (PhD) with Thomas
Simaku. He also spend a year in Hannover studying acoustic and electronic music
(Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover), with Professors Ming Tsao,
Gordon Williamson and Joachim Heintz. He is currently Assistant Professor in
Acoustic and Acousmatic composition in the Technical University of Istanbul,
Department of Sonic Arts, Center for advanced study in Music (M.I.A.M.).
Manolis participates in the “Labor Beethoven 2017-2020” project, funded and
organized by the Berlin Academy of the Arts. The project comprises participants from
Basel, Tel-Aviv and Thessaloniki. This 3-year period will include commissions and
performances from various ensembles in Germany and Switzerland and will culminate
in a final performance that will take place in Berlin in 2020.
His pieces have been performed in Greece (DissonArt ensemble, New Hellenic Quartet,
Off Borders Festival for electronic music in Thessaloniki, Music in Motion festival for
dance and music, Athens), Germany (Neues Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Earth, Sky, Space
festival, Hitzacker Musiktage 2018), Italy (Soundiff project), Hong Kong (AMGA
ensemble), Spain (ensemble Regards Mixtur festival 2016), Austria (NAMES
ensemble, Synaesthesis ensemble, Crossroads festival), Iran (International Electronic
Music Festival, Reza Korourian Awards 2017) and the UK (Kinetic nights festival,
Manchester, Andersson – Gallois – De Saram trio, Diotima Quartet, Psappha
ensemble).
Significant moments of his musical life comprise selection by the Crossroads festival
in Salzburg; selection by the Psappha ensemble to participate in the “Composing for
clarinet” scheme call for 2015-2016; selection to participate in both workshops of
MIXTUR festival 2016 and also proposal to compose a piece for ensemble Regards; a
hosting of his profile by the New York Composers Circle website after Eric Guinivan.