Ármin Cservenák
*14 October 1995
Works by Ármin Cservenák
Biography
Ármin Cservenák (born 14 October 1995 in Gyula - ) is a Hungarian composer and conductor. After finishing studies in Budapest in the fields of music theory, composition, conducting, and sound engineering, he continued his academic studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz under the supervision of Beat Furrer and Bernhard Lang. He additionally took lessons in microtonal composition, instrumentation, and analysis from Georg Friedrich Haas.
He participated in numerous masterclasses and received individual lessons from Péter Eötvös, Magnus Lindberg, Brian Ferneyhough, Alberto Posadas, Clemens Gadenstätter, Franck Bedrossian among others.
The Graz Opera premiered his chamber opera "SOLUS" in 2022, directed by Christoph Zauner. The opera received outstanding positive reviews in international magazines and musical forums. In 2022 he was awarded the Musikförderungspreis der Stadt Graz. He has won several prizes in prestigious competitions. His most recent and most distinguished awards are the 3rd Prize and the Audience Prize of the 76e Concours de Genève Composition Competition 2022.
His compositions were performed by Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, UMZE Ensemble, Tamás Pálfalvi, Schallfeld Ensemble among others.
About the music
Ármin Cservenák's work is based on self-discovery through the unconscious world. He believes that the reality we see is only a fraction of the world we exist in. Constant self-reflection and discovery characterize his work. The basis of his artistic and spiritual journey is dreams and intuitive perceptions which eventually merge with intellectual thinking. Dreams and perceptions are often more honest and lucid. Through dreaming, countless pathways open that can lead to a more profound human existence. On this pathway, he composes his pieces, which are the purest imprints of his personality and worldview. For him, the most important of all are compassion and gratitude, to perceive his surroundings with an open spirit, and open ears, seeking for harmony, peace, and beauty.
For him, composing music is a way of surprising and refreshing himself. His attitude as a composer involves a tireless exploration of unknown but promising sound territories. The contexts of his pieces often require performers to reinterpret classical instrumental techniques and to self-reflect, and meditate on sound, gesture, and energy distribution.
He has a particular affinity with early music, such as Machaut, Dufay, Ockeghem, Josquin, Brumel, Lassus, and Monteverdi among others. He is frequently involved in literature, the visual arts, and other performing arts, whose influences are often "echoed" in his works.
Prizes
VI. COMPOSITION COMPETITION IN MEMORIAM BÉLA BARTÓK | 2014
-First Prize
COMPOSITION COMPETITION IN MEMORIAM ZOLTÁN KODÁLY 135 | 2018
-Third Prize
UMZF 2020 (NEW HUNGARIAN MUSIC FORUM) COMPOSITION COMPETITION
-Second Prize in the chamber music category
-Special prize of the Péter Eötvös Contemporary Music Foundation
-Special prize of the Transparent Sound Festival Budapest
COMPOSITION COMPETITION OF THE I. DAYS OF CONTEMPORARY PIANO MUSIC GRAZ | 2021
-Special prize of Universal Edition
MUSIKFÖRDERUNGSPREIS DER STADT GRAZ | 2022
76e CONCOURS DE GENÈVE COMPOSITION COMPETITION | 2022
-Third prize
-Audience prize