Thomas Simaku

Biography

"tumultuous and glistening, with a deeply convincing inner strength, structural integrity and an impressively thunderous character." Politiken, Copenhagen

Albanian-born British composer Thomas Simaku (b. 1958) studied composition at the Tirana Conservatoire (1978-82) and the University of York (1991-96) where he was awarded a PhD in Composition, studying with David Blake. Winner of the coveted Lionel Robbins Memorial Scholarship in 1993 (Simaku was the only candidate in the UK to win the award that year), he also was the 1996 Leonard Bernstein Fellow in Composition at Tanglewood Music Centre in the USA studying with Bernard Rands, and a fellow at the Composers' Workshop, California State University (1998), with Brian Ferneyhough. In 2000 he was awarded a prestigious Fellowship from the Arts & Humanities Research Council in London.

Simaku's music has been reaching audiences all over Europe and the USA for over a decade, and it has been awarded a host of accolades for its highly expressive qualities and its unique blend of drama, intensity and modernism.

Notable performances include, among others, those given by the Arditti Quartet, English Northern Philharmonia, European Union Chamber Orchestra, London Kreutzer Quartet, Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra, the New London Orchestra, Amsterdam New Music Ensemble, Goldberg Ensemble, Tokyo Phonosphere Musicale, Insomnio, Capricorn Ensemble, Norwegian Medieval Trio, New Music Players, Concorde (Dublin) and Austrian 'Ticom' Ensemble. Internationally renowned soloists such as Peter Sheppard Skaerved, Ian Pace, Vania Lecuit and Madeleine Shapiro have performed his solo pieces.

Simaku's works have been performed throughout Europe, as well as in North America and the Far East, in festivals such as the ISCM, Tanglewood, Avignon, Miami, Manchester, Zagreb Biennale, Birmingham, Munich, Cagliari, Odense (Denmark), KlangSpectrum (Austria), Viitassari (Finland), etc. Broadcasts of his music include those by Radio-France, ORF (Austria), SWR2 (Germany), ABC (Australia), Swedish, Polish, Hellenic, Danish, Israeli, Croatian, Swiss, Icelandic and Brazil national radio stations. A concert-portrait featuring his music took place at the 2003 Begegnungen Internationale Konzertserie in Innsbruck, Austria.

In 2000 he was granted British citizenship and now lives in York with his wife and two daughters. Winner of a number of prestigious awards such as Serocki International Prize and Lutoslawski Award, Leverhulme Research Fellowship and Honourable Mention at the Musical Personalities International Competition - Alexander Tansman 2006, Simaku is a lecturer in composition at the University of York.

"...Réflexions de la Croix was the only work in the concert which demonstrated a clear individual charisma." Stuttgarter Nachrichten - 2006

"Soliloquy is a piece of unaccompanied violin writing which brings out the instrument's natural genius for passionate expression, fully realized in the young Luxembourg violinist Vania Lecuit's riveting interpretation." Seen & Heard - Review of the ISCM Festival, Luxembourg - 2000

"[Hyllus for Orchestra]... a piece of controlled, dramatic and surprisingly individual power." Keith Potter, Tempo 2005 - Review of the world premiere at the Zagreb Biennale

"...what surprised the public the most and motivated the most comments in the Museum's Hall, was 'Soliloquy' by Simaku... [who] demonstrated an astonishing knowledge of the violin." Mundoclassico.com, Spain - 2002

"...Soliloquy III for solo viola ... explores a wide range of high harmonics and microtonal effects, rapidly switching from violent chordal attacks to spare bowed fragments, reminiscent of Georgy Kurtag in its spare atomistic compression." Sun-Sentinel, Florida - Review of the Miami ISCM Festival - 2002

"The Eagle on the Cross ... the technical command, dramatic pacing and vivid orchestration made for a seriously impressive musical essay with a real sense of purpose and outrage" Yorkshire Evening Press

50th birthday interview, May 2007
Thomas Simaku's website