Thomas Heinisch was born in 1968 in Vienna and studied harmony and composition at the Vienna Conservatory with Reinhold Portisch. He worked privately with Christian Ofenbauer, and completed his composition studies with Wolfgang Rihm in Karlsruhe. In addition, he also participated in masterclasses with Alfred Schnittke and Friedrich Cerha. In 1997 he was the recipient of UNESCO’s International Rostrum of Composers for his ensemblework Abglanz und Schweigen. His music has been presented by Klangforum Wien, GAGEEGO!, Ensemble 13, ÖENM Salzburg, Ensemble “die Reihe”, Ensemble Kontrapunkte, among others, and various works have also been commissioned by Steirischer Herbst, the Salzburg Festival and Wien Modern. In 2008 a CD of piano works by Heinisch, performed by pianist Janna Polyzoides, was nominated for the “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik” and the“ORF Pasticcio-Preis”.
