About
Based in Chicago, Zvonimir Nagy was educated at the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb, Texas Christian University, and École Normale de Musique de Paris, completing his doctoral studies at Northwestern University. His principal teachers include: Jay Alan Yim, Augusta Read Thomas, Tristan Murail (composition); Robert Gjerdingen (music theory); H. Joseph Butler (organ); Tamás Ungár, Eugene Indjic, Damir Sekošan (piano); Robert Harris (choral conducting).
As a composer, performer, and teacher, Nagy divides his time between teaching and composing at St. Xavier University where he is Professor of music theory, composition, and organ improvisation, and serving as Director of Music and Organist at St. Michael in Old Town Church in Chicago where he directs the adult choir Schola Cantorum, oversees the liturgical music, and plays the historic Kilgen organ.
Cognitive science, neuroscience, and the world of digital media are major influences on contemporary culture, and all three impact Nagy’s continuing formation as a composer, performer, and teacher. As a composer, he seeks to deepen his understanding of the psychological dimensions of music. The fascination with the perceptual qualities of tone and durational systems, together with their theoretical hierarchies within Western musical culture, has been a principal influence on musical discourse in his recent compositions. In both vocal and instrumental works, Nagy often draws inspiration from the philosophy of sound perception and its relation to spirituality and mysticism.
A recipient of many music awards, fellowships and scholarships, both as a composer and performer, Nagy received the distinguished Croatian Music Institute Award ‘Juraj Haulik’ and the ‘Darko Lukic’ Young Artists Award; Lili Kraus Scholarship at Texas Christian University; 1st prize in ‘Concours National de Piano’ in Paris, France; 3rd prize in the ‘Martin Memorial International Piano Competition’ in Fort Worth, Texas, and 1st prize in ‘Chopin International Piano Competition’ in Corpus Christi, TX; 3rd prize in the national American Music Teachers National Association Composition Competition for a string quartet Ailleurs; the ‘Durington Student Composition Award’ for a piano piece And so she said…; ‘William Karlins Award’ for music composition at Northwestern University for his piano piece Vestiges. His works have been performed by the Zagreb Piano Trio, String Quartet Slavonsky, Jack Quartet and by the composer himself. Nagy was one of the winners of the Midwest Music Graduate Consortium whereby his quartet On a Lantern had its premiere at Northwestern University in 2006. In 2008, Nagy presented a piano recital at the Art Institute of Chicago with a world premiere of his piano work, A Book of Hours. Recently, a work for a mixed choir a cappella Sonoris Vocibus and Lætare Vox, a work for an unaccompanied soprano had its premiere at the Festival of Lessons and Carols and Old Town Organ Vespers, respectively, both at St. Michael in Old Town Church in Chicago.
He is currently working on the expansion of the multi-movement piano work based on Thomas Merton’s A Book of Hours, and on the completion of his new work for orchestra, Invocation.
Nagy resides in Chicago with his wife, Haley.
