Andys Skordis

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Andys Skordis (born in Nicosia, 24 August 1983) is a Cypriot composer. Skordis was awarded the Buma Toonzetters Prize 2012 for the best Dutch composition for that year, [1] as well as the Berlin Opera Prize 2022. [2]

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Biography

Andys Skordis (Cyprus, 1983) studied composition and film scoring at Berklee College of Music, graduating in 2007. He followed his postgraduate studies in composition at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, studying with Richard Ayres and Wim Henderickx, graduating in 2011. Skordis has also studied Karnatic music at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Javanese gamelan with Elsje Plantema and Balinese gamelan at Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Denpasar.

His work list includes more than eighty compositions, comprising mostly of operas, orchestral and chamber music, oratorios, gamelan pieces and music for theatre, dance and short films. Skordis' music has been featured at renowned contemporary festivals, including Holland Festival, November Music, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Bali Arts Festival, Voix Nouvelles, CTM Festival, Unsafe and Sounds, and Symphony for Asia. He has received commissions from Neuköllner Oper, Athens & Epidaurus Festival, International Ensemble Modern Academy, Gettysburg Symphony Orchestra, Third Coast Percussion group, Orkest de Ereprijs, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, and more. He has also created and conducted various music theatre performances in unconventional locations such as Temples, abandoned buildings, forests, floating stages, staircases and more. [3]

Andys has received international recognition for his work, through prizes including the Buma Toonzetters Prize 2012 (composer of the year in The Netherlands) [4] , the Berlin Opera Prize 2022 [5] , the Black Pencil Prize 2020 [6] , the 1st and 2nd prizes in orchestral competitions by the Cyprus Symphony orchestra, as well as further awards from ISCM Korea, Iceland, Mexico, Indonesia, Cyprus, the Netherlands and USA. Additionally, he was selected as a composer in residence by Third Coast Percussion group, and he was part of the team at the National Opera of Greece that was awarded with the Fedora prize, for the project CO-OPERAtive [7] .


In opera and theater, he has collaborated with directors such as Michael Marmarinos, Thanos Papakonstantinou, Themelis Glynatsis, Martha Frintzila, Miriam Goetz, Jelena Vuksanović, and Elia Kalogianni, as well as choreographers Venetsiana Kalampaliki, Demetris Mytilinaios, and Elena Christodoulidou. Besides composing he is the founder of the contemporary ensemble “PATSIAOURA” and the Athens Gamelan Orchestra, which he directs. He is an active performer with his bands “OGMIOS” andMonsieur Doumani,. [8] , and he is member of the board of directors of Insitu Recordings. Together with Jelena Vuksanovic they also created the Ritual Opera Collective, presenting works of new music theater in site specific locations. He has also been a lecturer at the Conservatorium Van Amsterdam from 2018-2023, teaching Advanced rhythm composition and improvisation, a topic which he also taught in various foundations worldwide.

Awards – selection

Selected works

References

  1. "Andys Skordis wins Toonzetters Prize 2012". 26 June 2012.
  2. https://www.neukoellneroper.de/en/berliner-opernpreis-composition-werke-uraufgefuehrt-und-ausgezeichnet/https://www.neukoellneroper.de/en/berliner-opernpreis-composition-werke-uraufgefuehrt-und-ausgezeichnet/
  3. "Andys Skordis".
  4. https://www.conservatoriumvanamsterdam.nl/en/news/2012/06/andys-skordis-wins-toonzetters-prize-2012/
  5. https://www.neukoellneroper.de/en/berliner-opernpreis-composition-werke-uraufgefuehrt-und-ausgezeichnet/
  6. https://www.blackpencil.org/en/black-pencil-prize-2025
  7. https://www.fedora-platform.com/prizes-and-grants/supported-projects/2019/winners/co-operative/45
  8. "About | Monsieur Doumani | Nicosia".
  9. "Co-OPERAtive - Greek National Opera - Winner of the FEDORA Education Prize 2019".
  10. "BP PRIZE | Ensemble Black Pencil".
  11. "Berlin Opera PRIZE | Neuköllner Oper".
  12. "GENOMINEERDEN VOOR GAUDEAMUS PRIJS 2012 BEKEND". Gaudeamus Muziekweek. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2024.