Panayiotis Kokoras

Kokoras is an internationally award-winning composer and computer music innovator, and currently Regents Professor of composition and CEMI director (Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia) at the University of North Texas. Hailing from Greece, he underwent formal training in classical guitar and composition in Athens (Dip), Greece, and later in York, England (MA, PhD). He taught for many years at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki.

Kokoras's sound compositions use sound as the only structural unit. His concept of "holophonic musical texture" describes his goal that each independent sound (phonos), contributes equally into the synthesis of the total (holos). In both instrumental and electroacoustic writing, his music calls upon a "virtuosity of sound," a hyper-idiomatic writing which emphasizes on the precise production of variable sound possibilities and the correct distinction between one timbre and another to convey the musical ideas and structure of the piece. His compositional oeuvre draws inspiration from his in-depth exploration of domains such as Music Information Retrieval compositional strategies, extended techniques, tactile sound, Instrumental Prosthetics, Robotics, and the intriguing relationship between sound and consciousness. Kokoras's works have received significant recognition, with commissions and fellowships from renowned institutions and festivals including the Guggenheim Foundation (USA), Fromm Music Foundation (Harvard), IRCAM (France), MATA (New York), Gaudeamus (Netherlands), ZKM (Germany), and IMEB (France), among others. His compositions have graced over 1000 performances across the globe, amassing an impressive array of 90 awards and distinctions in international competitions. His compositions have consistently been chosen by juries from over 300 international calls for music. He stands as a founding member of the Hellenic Electroacoustic Music Composers Association (HELMCA) and held positions including board member and president from 2004 to 2012. Presently, he assumes the role of Secretary of the International Confederation of Electroacoustic Music (ICEM). He also served as conference chair for the ICMC 2015 and SMC 2018 and regularly serves as jury member in composition competitions and conferences. For more information, please visit his official website.