rafael NASSIF composer

Brazilian composer based in Graz, whose work concentrates on timbric and spatial aspects. In his teenage years he studied composition informally with Almeida Prado and Marlos Nobre. Later Nassif received his Bachelor's degree in Composition at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2003-7, class of Oiliam Lanna and Sérgio Freire) and Master's degree from the State University of Music and Performing Arts of Stuttgart (2009-12, class of Caspar Johannes Walter; seminars on Sonology with Oliver Schneller and Marco Stroppa); at the same University he concluded in 2014 with honor the Konzertexamen in Composition, last musical degree in Germany. He also carried out studies in the Alexander Technique (and the musical phenomenon) with Ilan Sebastian Grabe. Master-classes at international festivals include among others Alvin Lucier, Christian Wolff, Kaija Saariaho, Beat Furrer, George Aperghis and Georg Friedrich Haas.

Nassif's music has been played and recorded worldwide; in 2013 his portrait CD "musica d'incanto" was published in Brazil. He has also received various awards for his works, among them first prizes in events such as the Irino Prize 2011 (Tokyo) and the BMI Student Composer Awards 2009 (NY), as well as commissions (among others from the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra, CordaNova guitar quartet, ensemble cross.art, SWR-Vokalensemble). In Germany he received in 2013 the "Karl-Sczuka-Förderpreis" on the SWR-Donaueschinger Musiktage; in 2014 a composer's fellowship from the BW-Kunststiftung and from the Akademie der Künste-Berlin. In 2015 he has obtained the "Kunstpreis Berlin" in the AdK and for the second
time the Irino Prize (for "musica d'incanto").

Nassif is active in the multiple capacities of composer, interpreter/performer (piano, ad-hoc) and curator/organizer of concerts. In partnership with several musicians, he has organized and participated in an extensive number of concerts in the cities where he has resided, such as the contemporary music series 'eu gostaria de ouvir' (Belo Horizonte, 2008-12). His varied parallel interests (Experimental Art, Philosophy, Meditation, Pranayama and others) reverberate in his recent works.

rafael NASSIF composer’s tracks

• KARUNA by rafael NASSIF composer
• "esboço de monumento" by rafael NASSIF composer
• "silhuetas de uma dança imaginária" by rafael NASSIF composer