Nadir Vassena

Nadir Vassena is a Professor of Composition at the Lucerne School of Music's Institute of New Music, Composition, and Theory. He holds a prominent role in contemporary classical music, blending composition with theater, dance, and electronic elements. Born in Lugano in 1970, he studied in Milan and Freiburg under Bruno Zanolini and Johannes Schöllhorn. His works span chamber music, electronic compositions, and interdisciplinary performances.

Notable awards include the Schweizer Musikpreis 2015, Westdeutscher Rundfunk competition, and membership in the Istituto Svizzero di Roma. He has produced over 300 concerts and co-curated Zurich's Tage für neue Musik (2004–2011). Collaborations include works with Fabio Pusterla's poetry and projects like ROSA, il caso Vercesi, which won the SRKS Jury Prize for Best Musical Composition.

Recent compositions emphasize multimedia integration, such as Rachmaninoff Echoes (VR experience) and dust, the boundaries of the soul (2025 premiere). His works often explore themes of memory, identity, and nature, with technical experimentation in soundscapes and ensemble dynamics.

Awards:

• Schweizer Musikpreis 2015
• SRKS Jury Prize
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk Award
• Forum Wallis ARS Electronica Commendation

Grants and mentorship include the Solitude Academy and Landis & Gyr Foundation. He actively contributes to music education through masterclasses and academic leadership.