About
Based in Chicago, Zvonimir Nagy was educated at the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb, Conservatoire “Jacques Ibert”, École Normale de Musique de Paris, Texas Christian University, completing his doctoral studies in music composition at Northwestern University. His principal teachers include: composition – Jay Alan Yim, Augusta Read Thomas, Tristan Murail, Marko Ruzdjak; music theory – Robert Gjerdingen; organ – H. Joseph Butler; piano – Tamás Ungár, Sergei Markarov, Eugene Indjic, Damir Sekošan.
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 his post at St. Michael in Old Town Church in Chicago where he directs the choir, oversees the music, serves as the composer-in-residence, and plays the historic Kilgen pipe 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 music awards, fellowships and scholarships, both as a composer and performer, among others Nagy received the distinguished Croatian Music Institute Award ‘Juraj Haulik’ and The ‘Darko Lukic’ Young Artists Award; Concours National de Piano de Paris, 1st prize; Martin Memorial International Piano Competition, 3rd prize; The American Music Teachers National Association Composition Competition, 3rd prize; The Durington Composition Award; Chopin International Piano Competition Texas, 1st prize; Hall National Organ Competition San Antonio, finalist; William Karlins Composition Award at Northwestern University; The Midwest Music Graduate Consortium Composition Performance Award. His works have been commissioned and performed by the Zagreb Piano Trio, String Quartet Slavonsky, Zagreb Piano Trio, Jack Quartet, Belle Voix Choir, Trinity Church Wilmette, Pianist David Kalhous, Fused Muse Ensemble, and by the composer himself. 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 piano solo, … of the lake II, has been selected as one of eight works to be recorded by Cleveland Contemporary Players at Cleveland State University this summer.
Nagy resides in Chicago with his wife, Haley.
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