Christoph Cech

Christoph Cech is an accomplished Austrian musician, composer, and conductor, with a diverse background in both music and architecture. He studied percussion, jazz piano, jazz theory, and composition at the Conservatory of the City of Vienna, and architecture at the Vienna University of Technology.

Since the early 1980s, Cech has been a prominent figure in the music scene, performing internationally as a pianist, composer, and conductor in various ensembles. He has co-founded influential groups such as the Nouvelle Cuisine Bigband, the Janus Ensemble, his piano trio Mondautos, and the Giuffre Zone Trio. These ensembles are known for performing cutting-edge compositions that blend experimental jazz with the sound and form of contemporary modernism.

In addition to his ensemble work, Cech has made a name for himself as a composer and conductor in the realm of serious music. His expansive artistic portfolio includes chamber music, large symphonic works, and operas. Cech is particularly skilled at making complex musical content accessible, demonstrated by his extensive work with workshops aimed at introducing music to a wider audience.

From 1998 to 2006, Christoph Cech taught composition at the Vienna University of Music. In 1999, he was appointed director of the JIM Institute for Jazz and Improvised Music at Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, where he became a professor of jazz composition in 2004.

Cech’s work continues to bridge the worlds of experimental jazz, modern classical music, and education, making significant contributions to both the academic and performance landscapes.