Andrii Merkhel

Andrii Merkhel was born in 1986 in Kyiv. He graduated from the composition class of Prof. Yevhen Stankovych at the National Music Academy of Ukraine. Later, he studied composition at Jerzy Kornowicz's studio in Warsaw. He participated in workshops on composition by Serhiy Pilyutikov, Carola Bauckholt, Martin Smolka, and Dmitry Kurliandsky.

Merkhel works in a wide range of music and art, looking at creative processes and results from an anthropological perspective. In his work, he combines elements of conceptualism with performative practices.

Andrii Merkhel is the author of numerous chamber, stage, and symphonic works. He is a regular participant in international contemporary music festivals. His works have been performed in Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, the USA, and Canada. The composer regularly collaborates with leading soloists and ensembles in Ukraine and Europe.

Merkhel is the co-founder and artistic director of Sed Contra Ensemble, Daraba Studio, founder of the Ars Teteriv Stage Festival, co-curator of the Sound. Voice. Silence Music and Theater Laboratory, and founder of the Center of Cross-Art Communications.

Awards

2020 — Levko Revutskyi Prize of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine for compositional achievements
2019 — Grant of the President of Ukraine for young artists in the field of music
2014, 2018 — Gaude Polonia scholarship program of the Ministry of Culture of Poland