Michael Kahr

Curriculum Vitae Dr. Mag.art. Michael Kahr (MMus.)

Education

University of Sydney, Ph.D., Dept. of Musicology (2009)

University of Sydney, M.Mus., Jazz Piano summa cum laude (2004)

University of Music in Graz, Magister artium in Jazz Piano summa cum laude (2001)

Musikhochschule Köln, Exchange Student, Dept. of Jazz (2000)

Specialization

My research interests draw from a profound background as a professional pianist, composer and arranger in the field of jazz and popular music. Specialization in jazz theory, both academic and pedagogical.

Dissertation

‘Aspects of Context and Harmony in the Music of Clare Fischer’

A study of harmonic innovation and its links to socio-cultural aspects in the music of the underrated American jazz pianist, composer and arranger Clare Fischer. It develops a pragmatic approach towards harmony and context and involves comparative analyses of Fischer’s compositional approach. Besides evaluating the core literature in jazz theory, the work is based on interviews, both formal and informal, as well as on new transcriptions of solo piano improvisations and unpublished manuscripts of the Fischer estate.

Honors and Grant

BMWF GSK Grant for Lecture at the Jazz Research Round Table at The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, Newark, NY (2011)

BMWF/Steiermärkische Landesregierung grants for the organization of the First International Clare Fischer Symposium (2010)

Fulbright Scholar Award (2010)

Endeavour International Research Scholarship (Australian government) (2005-2009)

International Postgraduate Award (University of Sydney) (2005-2009)

Emanuel und Sophie Fohn Scholarship (2005-2009)

JazzAhead Jazz Composers Residency (Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.) (2005)

Margaret Henderson Donation Account (Sydney) (2004)

Sydney Conservatorium International Scholarship with Merit (2003)

Austrian governmental scholarships by Bundeskanzleramt (2003)

SKE Prize (Austria) (2002 and 2003)

Austrian Ministery for Education, Science and Culture (2002)

Erasmus Scholarship (2002)

Scholarship ‘Jazz in July’ (Amherst University of Massachusetts) (2000)

Scholarship for IASJ-Jazzmeeting in Santiago de Compostela (1999)

Teaching Experience

Senior Lecturer, University of Music in Graz since 2006

(Jazz piano, assistance in jazz theory)

Teaching assistant, University of Sydney 2003-2005

(Jazz piano, jazz ensemble)

Artistic Activities

Concerts

3 Iranian Sopranos (London, Vancouver) 2008, 2009

European-African Jazz Ensemble (Senegal) 2001, 2002

Mosaic (Australia) 2007

Own ensembles in jazzclubs and jazz festivals (Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Croatia, Finland, USA, Australia, Africa) 2000 – 2009

Compositions, Arrangements

Upper Styrian Big Band Folk 2010

Big band and small jazz ensemble 1995-2009

Rondo Vienna 2009

missImister 2005-2009

Sanni Orasmaa Quartet (Finland) 2006

SaxallegrO (Slovenia) 2006

Selected CD Recordings

Kahr, M., Stories, CD, mr.d. music, Cologne 2002.

Kahr, M., m&m, CD, self-published, Graz 2005.

Kahr, M., Bittersweet, CD, Cracked Anegg Records, Vienna 2008.

High Styria Big Band, Upper Styrian Big Band Folk, CD, Oberaich, 2011.