Education
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (2017-2023)
Doctor of Philosophy, Music Composition
Supervising faculty:
Augusta Read Thomas, Travis Jackson
Ethnomusicology minor field topic: “Where are you in your music? International Composers in the US and their relationships to their countries’ local traditions”
New York University, New York, NY (2014-2016)
Master of Music, Theory and Composition
Supervising Faculty:
Justin Dello Joio, Julia Wolfe, Kent Underwood
Theory dissertation topic: “Kaija Saariaho: A study in texture and unity. Analyses of Orion, Asteroid 4179: Toutatis and Lichtbogen”
University of York, York, United Kingdom (2011-14)
Bachelor of Arts, Music
Theory dissertation topic: “Kaija Saariaho: Coherence, Continuity, Unity. Analyses of Changing Light, Quatre Messages and Oltra Mar”
University teaching
2022-present Visiting Assistant Professor
Knox College
2022 Course Assistant, Introduction to World Music
University of Chicago
2020 Instructor, Introduction to Music Composition (online)
University of Chicago
2019 Instructor, Introduction to Materials and Design
University of Chicago
2019 Course Assistant, Composition Seminar
University of Chicago
2018 Course Assistant, Introduction to Materials and Design
University of Chicago
2013-14 Assistant Instructor, Theory and Musicianship
University of York
Other teaching
2017-present Composition instructor for composer fellows
Kinds of Kings Bouman Fellowship (New York, NY and online)
2021 Composition masterclass instructor
Furman University 2021 Composing for Percussion Workshop (online)
2017 Composition instructor (high-school level)
Loretto Project Community Outreach, Loretto, KY
2016-17 English as a second language instructor, Quito, Ecuador
Professional service
2017-present Kinds of Kings Bouman Fellowship (New York, NY and online)
Co-creator and co-organizer of annual fellowship, member of selection committee,
mentor for composition fellows
2023 University of Hartford music department
Composition seminar presenter
2022 University of Chicago department of music
Composition seminar presenter
2021 Cortona Sessions (online)
Panelist on the issue of "Justice, Inclusion, and Action in New Music"
2021 Music Colloquium Series at the University of Chicago
Moderator
2021 Anderson Center Community Workshop, Red Wing, MN
Music instructor/workshop leader
2021 New Music Gathering
Panelist on issues of Composition and Composer Collectives
2020 Furman University Amplify@Furman Series (online)
Composition seminar presenter
Conferences, festivals and residencies
2023 Women Composers Festival of Hartford Composer-in-Residence 2023, Hartford, CT
2021 Anderson Center artist-in-residence, Red Wing, MN
2019-20 National Sawdust composer in residence, New York, NY
2019 Outhear New Music 2019, Larissa, Greece
2018 The Loretto Project with Longleash Trio, Louisville and Loretto, KY
2018 VIPA New Music Festival, Valencia, Spain
2018 New Music on the Point, Lake Dunmore, VT
2018 International Composers Conference, Curitiba, Brazil
Recent and upcoming commissions
2024 Megan Arns
new piece, for percussion, fixed electronics and video art
2024 Kyle Grimm
new piece, for double bass and electronics
2023 Pharos Arts Foundation
Iterations on emerald, for solo piano
2022 Rubiks Collective
Five Love Songs, for flute, cello, piano and percussion
2021 Julia Cassio Henderson solo album
(New Piece), for solo cello
2021 Eighth Blackbird and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Nine Mothers, concerto for chamber ensemble and orchestra
2021 ~Nois and Kinds of Kings Collaboration Project
Count Me In, for saxophone quartet
2021 Carrie Frey solo project
Strange Dance, for solo viola
2021 Adrianne Munden-Dixon solo project
Arachne, for solo violin
2020 Earspace E-commissions
pink., for Pierrot ensemble with percussion
2020 UCLA and Pomegranate Arts “Notes on Napkins”
Pencil sketch for open instrumentation
2020 HOCKET ensemble, “What 2020 Sounds Like”
Jasmine, for two harmonicas
2019 ~Nois and Kinds of Kings Collaboration Project
Shore to Shore, for saxophone quartet
2018-19 Negaunee Institute and Civic Orchestra of Chicago, “Chicago Speaks”
Our Town, for string quartet
2018 Amalgama Ensemble, “The Lost Words Project”
Adder, for Pierrot ensemble with percussion
Selected upcoming and recent performances
2024
Shore to Shore and Count me In for saxophone quartet. ~Nois quartet Album Release, Chicago, IL
2023
Iterations on emerald, for solo piano. Pavlos Antoniades, Nicosia, Cyprus
If I Go, for string trio. Chartreuse Trio at the Women Composers Festival of Hartford, Hartford, CT
For a while, for mixed chamber ensemble. Grossman ensemble, Chicago, IL
pink. for mixed chamber ensemble. Earspace ensemble, Duke Residency, Raleigh, NC and Baltimore, MD
Five Love Songs, for mixed chamber ensemble. Rubiks Collective. Melbourne, Australia
2022
Nine Mothers concerto, (premiere and two performances), Eighth Blackbird and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati, OH
Shore to Shore and Count me In for saxophone quartet. ~Nois quartet, Brooklyn, NY and Chicago, IL
Arachne, for solo violin. Adrianne Munden-Dixon Album Release, New York, NY
Strange Dance, for solo viola. Carrie Frey Album Release, New York, NY
2021
Suburbia for chamber ensemble (premiere). Wet Ink Ensemble at
Ear Taxi Festival, Chicago, IL
jaune doré (American Prize 2017), for string quartet
Desdemona Quartet at
Banff Center, Alberta, Canada
Scholes Studio, New York, NY (Recording session)
Zafa Collective at
Kehrein Center for the Arts, Ear Taxi Festival, Chicago, IL
bloody.pink.brain for chamber ensemble (premiere), Earspace Ensemble (online)
2020
Jasmine, for two harmonicas (premiere). HOCKET duo (online)
Shore to Shore, for saxophone quartet. ~Nois quartet at
California State University, Los Angeles, CA.
Hydra, for alto saxophone. Allison Balcetis at
North American Saxophone Alliance Conference (NASA), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
SITE/LESS Chicago, Chicago, IL (premiere)
Honors and awards
2021 Arts, Science and Culture Initiative (ASCI) Creative Grant
2020-21 Arts, Science and Culture Initiative (ASCI) Annual Fellowship
2019 The American Prize in Composition, instrumental chamber music division.
1st place: jaune doré, for string quartet
2019 The American Prize in Composition, vocal chamber music division.
2nd place: Toward the Light, for mixed chamber ensemble and three female voices.
2014 The York Award for academic achievement and initiative in university events and services.
Commercial recordings
Shore to Shore and Count me in, for saxophone quartet: Kinds of ~Nois by ~Nois saxophone quartet
Strange dance, for solo viola: upcoming solo album by Carrie Frey
Arachne, for solo violin: Lund by Adrianne Munden-Dixon
Faro, for solo carillon. Ripple Effects by Joey Brink
Selected interviews and media
2021
Arts, Science &Culture Initiative Profile: Maria Kaoutzani
https://arts.uchicago.edu/blogs/arts-science-culture-initiative/asci-profile-maria-kaoutzani
2020
Bowling Green Living American Composers Series: Kinds of Kings
https://beta.prx.org/stories/356238
2018
Movers and Makers Podcast, Episode 2: Maria Kaoutzani
https://themoversandmakerspodcast.libsyn.com/the-movers-and-makers-podcast-episode-2-portrait-interview-of-maria-kaoutzani-composer
Language skills
English (professional/academic proficiency)
Spanish (professional/academic proficiency)
French (conversational proficiency)
Greek (native)