Christian Utz studied composition, piano, and music theory in Vienna and Karlsruhe;
he is professor for music theory and music analysis at the University of the
Arts in Graz/Austria. In 2000, Utz received a PhD degree at the Institute
for Musicology at Vienna University with a thesis on New Music and Interculturality.
From John Cage to Tan Dun (published in 2002 by Franz Steiner Verlag Stuttgart
/ Germany).
In 1998, he founded AsianCultureLink to enhance intercultural exchange between
European and Asian countries. He initiated collaborations between Taiwanese/Chinese
and European musicians and composers. His research project on the “Relationship
between Traditional and Contemporary Music in Taiwan“ in 2000 was supported
by the Fondation Sino-Française pour l'Education et la Culture, Taipei.
He has been guest editor of ‘Traditional Music and Composition’,
an issue of the journal “the world of music” (Vol. 45/2).
Utz gave numerous lectures in East Asia and Europe and frequently presented
papers at international conferences, his compositions have been performed
by leading ensembles and musicians worldwide.