University of Music and Drama; Director, ligeti center
Biography
Georg Hajdu is a distinguished German composer, multimedia artist, and educator, renowned for his innovative contributions to contemporary music, multimedia composition, and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of music, science, and technology. Born in 1960 in Göttingen, Germany, Hajdu initially pursued studies in molecular biology and composition in Cologne, reflecting his lifelong interest in bridging scientific and artistic disciplines.
He later deepened his expertise in computer music at the Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT), completing a Ph.D. in 1994 at the University of California, Berkeley.
Hajdu’s compositional output is diverse, encompassing instrumental, vocal, and electronic works. A significant highlight of his career is the opera "Der Sprung – Beschreibung einer Oper", created in collaboration with librettist and filmmaker Thomas Brasch. The opera explores themes of human experience and tragedy through innovative musical and narrative structures.
In 2002, Hajdu premiered his groundbreaking networked performance environment Quintet.net during a multimedia opera production at the Munich Biennale for Contemporary Opera. This tool, which enables real-time networked music performance, exemplifies Hajdu’s pioneering work in interactive and collaborative music-making. That same year, he was appointed Professor of Multimedia Composition at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT), where he founded Germany’s first Master’s program in multimedia composition in 2004, solidifying his role as a leading educator in the field.
Throughout his career, Hajdu has been involved in numerous national and international projects, including the European Union’s Culture 2007 initiative CO-ME-DI-A, which focused on collaborative music performance technologies. He also served as Artist-in-Residence at the Goethe-Institut in Boston in 2010 and as a visiting professor at Northeastern University, where he continued to foster international collaborations and explore the frontiers of music and technology.
In addition to his academic and compositional achievements, Hajdu has developed influential software tools that have shaped contemporary music practice. These include Studie II, Quintet.net, MaxScore (co-developed with Nick Didkovsky for music notation in Max/MSP), and DJster, based on Clarence Barlow’s algorithmic composition program Autobusk. These tools reflect Hajdu’s commitment to expanding the possibilities of music creation and performance through technology.
As a composer, Hajdu’s works have been performed extensively across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia, earning him a reputation for innovation and artistry. His music often explores the boundaries between traditional and experimental approaches, integrating acoustic and electronic elements with precision and imagination. He has published numerous articles that delve into the interplay of music, science, and technology, further establishing his influence as a thought leader in the field.
Hajdu is also the founding director of the ligeti center in Hamburg, dedicated to exploring contemporary music and fostering interdisciplinary research. His contributions to the world of music and multimedia composition continue to inspire new generations of composers and technologists.
Biography
Georg Hajdu is a distinguished German composer, multimedia artist, and educator, renowned for his innovative contributions to contemporary music, multimedia composition, and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of music, science, and technology. Born in 1960 in Göttingen, Germany, Hajdu initially pursued studies in molecular biology and composition in Cologne, reflecting his lifelong interest in bridging scientific and artistic disciplines.
He later deepened his expertise in computer music at the Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT), completing a Ph.D. in 1994 at the University of California, Berkeley.
Hajdu’s compositional output is diverse, encompassing instrumental, vocal, and electronic works. A significant highlight of his career is the opera "Der Sprung – Beschreibung einer Oper", created in collaboration with librettist and filmmaker Thomas Brasch. The opera explores themes of human experience and tragedy through innovative musical and narrative structures.
In 2002, Hajdu premiered his groundbreaking networked performance environment Quintet.net during a multimedia opera production at the Munich Biennale for Contemporary Opera. This tool, which enables real-time networked music performance, exemplifies Hajdu’s pioneering work in interactive and collaborative music-making. That same year, he was appointed Professor of Multimedia Composition at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT), where he founded Germany’s first Master’s program in multimedia composition in 2004, solidifying his role as a leading educator in the field.
Throughout his career, Hajdu has been involved in numerous national and international projects, including the European Union’s Culture 2007 initiative CO-ME-DI-A, which focused on collaborative music performance technologies. He also served as Artist-in-Residence at the Goethe-Institut in Boston in 2010 and as a visiting professor at Northeastern University, where he continued to foster international collaborations and explore the frontiers of music and technology.
In addition to his academic and compositional achievements, Hajdu has developed influential software tools that have shaped contemporary music practice. These include Studie II, Quintet.net, MaxScore (co-developed with Nick Didkovsky for music notation in Max/MSP), and DJster, based on Clarence Barlow’s algorithmic composition program Autobusk. These tools reflect Hajdu’s commitment to expanding the possibilities of music creation and performance through technology.
As a composer, Hajdu’s works have been performed extensively across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia, earning him a reputation for innovation and artistry. His music often explores the boundaries between traditional and experimental approaches, integrating acoustic and electronic elements with precision and imagination. He has published numerous articles that delve into the interplay of music, science, and technology, further establishing his influence as a thought leader in the field.
Hajdu is also the founding director of the ligeti center in Hamburg, dedicated to exploring contemporary music and fostering interdisciplinary research. His contributions to the world of music and multimedia composition continue to inspire new generations of composers and technologists.