TIBOR SZIROVICZA - COMPOSER
TIBOR SZIROVICZA - BIOGRAPHY
Tibor Szirovicza is a distinguished Croatian composer, producer, director, and music educator whose versatile career spans composition, academic teaching, ensemble direction, and sound engineering. He completed his studies in composition and music theory at the Academy of Music, University of Zagreb, under the guidance of Professor Željko Brkanović. His compositional style artfully merges acoustic and electronic elements, creating distinctive sonic landscapes that have garnered international recognition. Szirovicza's works have been performed across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States by renowned ensembles including Ensemble Modern, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Cantus Ensemble, Synchronos Ensemble, Papandopulo Sax Quartet, Ensemble Qausars, TAJJ String Quartet, Zagreb Flute Ensemble, and others.
Throughout his career, Szirovicza has established meaningful collaborations with specialists in contemporary music, including celebrated clarinetists Heather Roche, Shelly Ezra, Renaud Guy-Rousseau, and Mikko Raasakka; cellists Madeleine Shapiro, Jelena Očić, and Monika Leskovar; conductors Rossen Gergov, Alun Francis, and Mladen Tarbuk. His notable compositions include "Shaula" for symphony orchestra, "Birdsong" for flute and electronics, "In Between" for oboe, ensemble and electronics (which earned him the prestigious Stjepan Šulek Award as the best composition of 2015), and "Alchemist" for cello and electronics.
In 2019, Szirovicza founded the international contemporary music ensemble Synchronos, through which he established the composers' platform SynchroForm, consistently supported by prestigious organizations including the Ernst von Siemens Foundation, the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, City of Zagreb and the Austrian Cultural Forum. His entrepreneurial spirit extends to his work as artistic director of the Music Panel (Glazbena Tribina) of the Croatian Composers' Society since 2017 (appointed until 2026), where he has significantly expanded the event's international connections, particularly with European Union countries.
As a music producer and sound engineer, Szirovicza has recorded eight albums featuring more than 40 works by Croatian contemporary composers, mostly published by Cantus Ltd.
Since 2016, Szirovicza has served on the faculty of the Department of Composition and Music Theory at the Academy of Music, University in Zagreb. His educational contributions extend beyond formal teaching to include organizing contemporary music masterclasses for young instrumentalists from Croatian music academies, with international artists such as Lorelei Dowling (Klangforum Wien) and Dietmar Wiesner (Ensemble Modern), and colleaguesfrom Synchronos - Mia Elezović, Ivana Kuljerić, Vlatka Peljhan and others. In 2022, he organized international composition masterclass led by Francesco Filidei featuring Ensemble Synchronos at the Music Panel.
Szirovicza served as a regular member of the Management Board of the Croatian Composers' Society (2017-2024) and represents contemporary music composers in various capacities. His early career recognition included the Fund Rudolf and Margita Matz Award for young composers in 2009. Through his multifaceted roles as composer, educator, producer, and artistic director, Tibor Szirovicza continues to make significant contributions to contemporary music in Croatia while fostering important international connections that enhance his country's musical landscape.