Alexander Chernyshkov
is a composer, performer and improviser. Born in Omsk, Russia. When 12 years old moves to Verona, Italy. Guitar player in different Rock bands and Jazz groups. Studies at Verona State Conservatory classical guitar and composition and theory. In 2008 moves to Vienna to study composition at the “Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst” with Chaya Czernowin and electro-acoustical composition with Karlheinz Essl. In 2014 he graduates and continues his studies with Clemens Gadenstätter at the “Kunstuniversität Graz”.
Partecipates at “Darmstadt Ferienkursen für neue Musik” 2008 and 2010, where he attends lessons with Brian Ferneyhough, Marco Stroppa, Klaus Lang, Georges Apperghis and Wolfgang Rihm and where the pieces Sakhar for wind instruments and Almatiki daechta for voice solo are performed. He is also selected for the prestigious academies “Tzlil Meudcan” (Tel-Aviv) and “Tchajkovsky summer academy”, where he studies with such composers as Pierluigi Billone, Franck Bedrossian, Chaya Czernowin and Steven Kazuo-Takasugi.
His music is regularly performed throughout Europe, North America and Russia and is broadcasted by the Austrian and Russian radios (Ö1, TOPOT). His work was commissioned and programmed in festivals such as Wien Modern 2008 (Vienna), Donaueschingen Musiktage 2010 (Off-Programm), Platforma (Moscow), NEW_Air (Vienna), Tzlil Meudcan (Tel-Aviv), Izlog Festival (Zagreb), Lost in translation (Moscow), Unsafe sounds (Vienna), Pythian Games (St.Petersburg), Shorts (Kiev), Monday Concerts at musikFabrik (Köln)
He worked with such ensembles as musikFabrik, Nikel, PHACE, MCME (Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble), f0, Platypus, ProArte, Nostri Temporis and musicians like Natalia Pschenitschnikowa, Vincent Daoud, Carl Rosman, Marina Poleukhina, Sara Perez.
In 2014 the score of his voice solo composition “Almatiki daechta” was a showpiece at the graphical and poetry exhibitions “Graphic of Sound” (St.Petersburg) and “Schrift” (Tiflis, Georgia).
He received the "STARTStupendium“ from the Austrian Ministry of Arts, Culture and Education (BMUKK) as an emerging young talent as well as the „Composition grant“ to complete a new piece. First price at the competition „to the left“ (St. Petersburg 2010). First Prize at the NEW_Air Vienna 2011 competition.
Since 2011 he is very active as improviser. Collaborates with musicians like Dario Fariello, Alexei Borisov, Marina Poleukhina, Alexey Sysoev, Hannes Dufek, Vladimir Gorlinskij. Founds the experimental duo O I O together with the composer Marina Poleukhina. Records the albums “Puinen Neon Itku” and "Songs about trees". He is a frequent guest at numerous free improvisation festivals and locations such as Multiversal (Berlin – Copenhagen), Velak (Vienna), Turn the Corner! in Porgy and Bess (Vienna), Path (Verona), Eternal November (Moscow), Sound and the Fury (Moscow), Echoraum (Vienna).
He frequently works and composes for the theater. “Sacrifice” – G a r a g e X (Vienna 2012) builds a sound sculpture, to make the music come out of the surfaces of the decorations. Other works include “Medea” – S. Pölten State Theatre (S. Pölten 2013), “Rashomon” – Meyerhold Theatre (Moscow 2014-15). The live sound installation “drafo” was built and performed in “Platforma Festiva at Vinzavod” (Moscow 2012) and “Essl Museum” (Vienna 2013). His experiments and music is included in the documentary film about russian contemporary music scene "Little heroes".
He experiments actively in building unique new instruments of strictly acoustical and mechanical origin using long tubes to transform the wind instruments or using motors, relays and electromagnets as vibrating sources. Works and lives in Vienna.
