Christoph Cech

Christoph Cech 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 80’s he has appeared as a pianist, composer and conductor in numerous ensembles with international concert activity. Ensembles co-founded by him such as the Nouvelle Cuisine Bigband, the Janus Ensemble, his piano trio Mondautos and the Giuffre Zone Trio guarantee performances of the latest compositions, which draw tension from the combination of experimental jazz with the sound and formal language of contemporary modernism. Beyond his diverse ensemble activities, Cech has distinguished himself as a composer and conductor in the spectrum of serious music. Cech ́s artistic oeuvre includes pieces ranging from chamber music instrumentations to large symphonic conceptions and operas. His concern and talent for conveying musical content – also to laymen – is evidenced by his rich workshop activities. From 1998 to 2006 Christoph Cech taught composition at the Vienna University of Music, and in 1999 he accepted a call to the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz as director of the JIM Institute for Jazz and Improvised Music, becoming a university professor in jazz composition in 2004.