ZESSES SEGLIAS

Zesses Seglias is a composer of sonic bodies and lingual structures. His compositional output focuses on the relationship between the sound of voice and its semantic, as defined by language. Much of this repertoire is staged, although concert pieces also share the same principle. Latest compositional activity focuses on unifying musical and spoken language in an hybrid of sound and meaning described as spoken sound theatre. 

Born in Edessa, Greece in 1984. 

Studies in Composition and Music Theatre with Dr. Michalis Lapidakis at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2002 – 2008, Bachelor Degree), with Beat Furrer at the University for Music and Performing Arts of Graz, Austria (2009 – 2011, Masters Degree) and with Dr. Dimitri Papageorgiou at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2012---2019, PhD). Postdoctoral Researcher at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2019---2021). 

Selected as an active participant to master classes such as Voix Nouvelles Royaumont 2014, Tzlil Meudcan 2014, Centre Acanthes 2011, Tschaikovsky Academy 2012 and more (Darmstadt Summer Academy 2010, Impuls Academy 2011, 2013), Mixtur 2024 with G. Aperghis, P. Billone, G. F. Haas, C. Czernowin, Μ. Andre, M. Stroppa, Ph. Hurel, M. Jarrel, K. Lang, P. Ablinger, J. Schölllhorn, D. Kourliandski among others. 

Performed in various cities in workshops and festivals by various ensembles and performers, such as D. Michel—Dansac, Christie Finn, Sophie Burgos, Jana Luksts, Schallfeld Ensemble, Klangforum Wien, Diotima Quartet, MusikFabrik, Phace, DissonArt, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Εxaudi , L'Instant Donné, Trio Amos, Vertixe Sonora and others. 

Opera and music theatre has been on the spotlight of his creation: To the Lighthouse (2017) in Bregenzer Festspiele received rave reviews by magazines and newspapers such as Opernwelt, Süddeutsche and Frankfurter Allgemeine.
In 2023, he was commissioned by the Greek National Opera to compose a new music theatre piece based on Samuel Beckett's Not I. Other accomplishments include hystéra (2014) at the Graz Opera, while he has been a finalist in opera composition competitions (Joseph Fux – Graz, Mannheim National Theatre). 

For 2023 he was awarded with the Staatsstipendium from the Austrian state. 

For 2026 he is commissioned by Konzerthaus Wien (supported by Siemens Foundation) for a semi staged full scale work based on S. Beckett’s Quad, in collaboration with Crossing Lines (Barcelona) and ExVoCo (Stuttgart). In the same year he is running an education-based artistic programm both as a composer and as an educator, organised by MoMus (Thessaloniki, Greece), funded by the Siemens Foundation. 

All of his studies have been funded by Greek Foundations, namely the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY), the Onassis Foundation and the Greek Composers Union.
He has taught Composition and Theory classes at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Thessaly, the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, the Moraitis Private School and many others. 

In September 2024 he served as a tutor at the workshop “Building performance practices” with Aktapha ensemble.