Gary Berger

11.02.1967

Gary Berger was born in Baden, Switzerland. A drummer since childhood, he studied percussion at the Zurich School of Music where he specialised in contemporary music and the interpretation of live electronic performances. From 1994 until 1995 he studied composition in Paris under Julio Estrada at the UPIC (Unité Polyagogique Informatique du CEMAMU), and subsequently under Gerald Bennet and Daniel Glaus at the Zurich School of Music. He received his composition diploma from the Zurich School of Music and Drama in 2002. He has attended composition courses and seminars headed by Iannis Xenakis, Michael Jarrell, Salvatore Sciarrino, Chaya Czernowin, Klaus Huber, Luca Francesconi, Manuel Hidalgo and Clarence Barlow. He was educated in electronic music at the Swiss Centre for Computer Music and carried out practical work at the IRCAM in Paris.
He is primarily a composer writing for various instrumental and electronic forces. Since 2001 he teaches live electronic at the Zurich School of Music and Drama, he also lectures as a guest at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Weimar and the Lucerne School of Music. Gary Berger is the founder and a member of the electro-acoustic ensemble NOSTROM. He develops projects in cooperation with, amongst others, the Collegium-Novum in Zurich. He was directing manager of the Sound Tower by Andreas Bosshard at the EXPO. 02, Arteplage Biel and the artistic director of the concert series ‘musica moderna’ in Wädenswil. The work of Gary Berger encompasses compositions for Ensembles and solo instruments, with or without electronic, and electronic tape works.
He has performed in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Argentina, France, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Korea, China, Canada, United States and Australia.
Gary Berger has received commissions from ‘Pro Helvetia’, ‘Tage für Neue Musik Zürich’, the ‘Europeäischen Musikmonats Basel’ and the city of Zurich amongst others. In 2001 and 2002 he was prize winner of the CIMESP (Concurso Internacional de Música Electroacústica de São Paulo) Brazil.
He lives and works as a freelance composer in Zurich.

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