Ekrem Eli PHOENIX

The music of composer Ekrem Eli Phoenix has been described by the press as “risk-taking and other worldly”. Much of his work is concept-driven and explores voice, language, technology and ethnomusicology. Acclaimed for his innovative and experimental works, Ekrem is an award-winning composer for theatre, film and dance as well as the concert hall.

Prolific in Australian arts scene as a composer, performer and educator since 2005, Ekrem holds a PhD degree in composition from Sydney Conservatorium of Music and his collaborations include projects with Gravity & Other Myths, The Song Company, Sydney Philharmonia, Force Majeure, Ensemble Offspring, Palau de la Musica, Barcelona, and Centre of Creative Research into Sound Arts Practice at University of the Arts, London.

One of his most recent works ‘Macro’ was written for the opening ceremonies of both Adelaide and Edinburgh International festivals, reimagining his original music on The Pulse (2021). Performed at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh to an audience of 16,000, Macro proved to be culturally and historically significant for Australian arts.

Helpmann Award winner and twice a finalist at APRA Art Music Awards for ‘Work of The Year’, Ekrem’s recent projects include ‘The Mirror’, ‘Out of Chaos’, ‘Playbook’ and ‘The Pulse’ - a major production of scale featuring an ensemble of 30 acrobats and a 30 voice all-female choir. Devised and developed during the global pandemic, headlining Adelaide Festival in 2021 for its world premier and the winner of Best Show, Best Design and Best Circography at International Circus Awards, ‘The Pulse’ encapsulates a daring response to a most significant time in our history and is now touring the world with performances booked in Spain, France, Austria and Canada. ‘The Mirror’, on the other hand, much closer to home, is counting down for a season at the Sydney Opera House starting in February 2023.

Alongside his musical pursuits, Ekrem has also taken active roles in accessible arts, assisted disadvantaged youth through creativity, and worked as a non-religious, faith-inclusive chaplain at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, supporting patients with cancer and heart ailments as well as in palliative care.