Roger D. Moore Distinguished Visitor in Composition (2024)
The Canadian composer, Marjan Mozetich, was born of Slovenian parentage in Gorizia, Italy in 1948 and emigrated to Canada in 1952. He began his musical training in piano and theory at the age of 9 in Hamilton, ON. Later he pursued studies in composition with John Weinzweig and Lothar Klein at the University of Toronto. In 1972 he received a Bachelor of Music Degree and an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto Diploma in piano performance. From 1973-74, with the assistance of the Canada Council of the Arts, Mr. Mozetich continued his studies privately under the successive supervision of Luciano Berio in Rome, Franco Donatoni at the Academia Chigiana, Siena, Italy and David Bedford in London, UK. In 2013 he received an honorary doctorate from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Early in his career he was active in the avant-garde music circles. He co-founded and was artistic director (1977-79) of the contemporary ensemble, ARRAYMUSIC. His works were performed by prominent new music ensembles across Canada and abroad, and have received several awards: second prize in the prestigious International Gaudeamus Composers’ Competition in Holland, first prize in the CAPAC (SOCAN)-Sir Ernest MacMillan Award, fellowship to the Instituto Musicale F. Canetti (Vicenza) and scholarship to the Academia Musicale Chigiana (Siena).
Stylistically he has evolved over the years from avant-garde expressionism, to minimalism, to a post-modern romanticism. Throughout, his music has remained accessible while still retaining an artistic individuality and integrity. Paradoxically, since the late 80’s he has achieved an overtly ‘traditional’ and yet distinctively modern voice: a blend of the traditional, popular and the modern which has been enthusiastically received by the musical public. His works have been performed and broadcast throughout Canada and abroad, even on Canadian Airline’s ‘in flight’ music programs.