Kai Johannes Polzhofer / Ink Still Wet 2025

Published: 21 August 2025

«My music is about the audible behind the audible. It is a composition about the drama of Eurydike. Thereby a piece about the drama of our time.»

Kai Johannes Polzhofer, one of the most aspiring Austrian conductors and composers in his generation and made recently his debut with the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra (after graduating from National Soloist Class under Michael Schønwandt). Invitations to high-ranking masterclasses through personal selection and conducting awards by a.o. Paavo and Neeme Järvi, Jorma Panula as well Daniele Gatti). He further completed his studies in Composition in early age with a Doctorate at Harvard University where he received a full scholarship under the guidance of Chaya Czernowin. He worked with Steven Takasugi after prior studies in Graz (with Klaus Lang) and Leipzig (with Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, Wolfram Schurig). Several national and international awards and stipends.

Assistant conductor at Bavarian State Opera Munich, German Opera on the Rhine, Kai Johannes Polzhofer has been invited by and worked with soloists, chorus and orchestra of Opera Gothenburg, Mariinsky Theatre, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony, ensemble gageego! (New Music Ensemble of Gothenburg Symphony), Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop (Berlin), Aalborg Symphonic Orchestra as well Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra. His compositions were premiered a.o. by internationally renown ensembles as JACK Quartet, Ensemble Mosaik, Elision Ensemble, Ensemble Recherche, Mivos Quartett, Parker Quartet, Ensemble Dal Niente and are published by Edition Gravis.

Kai Johannes Polzhofer is passionate about bringing classical music to the next generation and founded a.o. in 2015 with Karen Cueva the DuBois Orchestra Harvard (a symphony orchestra – he served as Music Director for – creating diverse and progressive platforms for symphonic initiatives to fight racism, sexism and social injustice with and through classical music.) Kai Johannes Polzhofer is equally passionate about bringing contemporary arts to society and therefore initiated forma Leipzig (Dialogue between New Music and contemporary literature).

The premiere of his new orchestra piece «Eurydike weeps» marks the first work with an Austrian symphony orchestra after his return to Vienna.