Biography

Zsolt Serei was born on April 3, 1954, in Takácsi, in western Hungary.

In 1973–1978 he studied composition with End­re Szervánszky and Emil Petrovics at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, than he also graduated in conducting as a pupil of End­re Szervánszky and Emil Petrovics in 1982. In ad­dition he studied privately under Zoltán Jeney and Al­bert Simon.

From 1978 to 1990 he was mem­ber of the Budapest–based New Music Studio. He took part in the ensem­ble’s con­certs as an instrumental per­former, as conductor and as a composer.

Since 1986 he has taught in the Composition Department at the Ferenc Liszt Acad­emy of Music.

In 1989 he founded the Componensem­ble instrumental group, which – during its two decades long activity – was one of the most im­por­tant base of Hungarian contemporary music performances.

The Hungarian premieres given by the Componensemble have included those of Eclat/Multiples by Pierre Boulez, What Is the Word by György Kurtág, and For Samuel Beckett, Routine In­vestigation and For Frank O’Hara by Morton Feldman’s. Apart from chamber works by 20th-century classics such as Berio, Boulez, Xenakis and others, the en­semble’s repertoire predomi­nantly features contemporary Hungarian music. As director of the Componen­semble Zsolt Serei has made many radio and TV re­cordings of composi­tions by Hungarian contemporary composers.

In 1991 he conducted the Dutch Niew Ensemble in works by Pierre Boulez.

His works Rege (1982 in Brussel) and his Calyx (1986 in Budapest) were performed at the program of the ISCM Festivals.

Prizes

Artisjus Prize with Comonensemble (several times) for the outstanding performances of new Hungarian Music; Soros Foundation Prize (1999); Erkel Prize (2003); Artisjus Prize (2003); Bartók–Pásztory Award (2010)