Akil Mark Koci

Akil Mark Koci (born 1936) is a Kosovar Albanian composer and music writer.

Education

Akil Mark Koci was born in Prizren, Yugoslavia. In the same city he graduated from secondary music school Josip Slavenski.He went on to study at the Sarajevo Music Academy, graduating in theoretical specialisation in 1962. He furthered his studies at one of the oldest conservatories in Germany, the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart, specialising in composition under the noted professor and composer, Milko Kelemen.

Koci also studied under Prof. Dr. Toma Prošev at the Music Academy in Skopje and was awarded his MA by Prof. Dr. Zija Kučukalić in Sarajevo.

As a DAAD scholarship holder he continued his specialisation at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin in his main field of interest, instrumental music.

Immediately after his studies, Koci worked at an electronic studio running three programmes for Radio Belgrade, with the composer Vladan Radovanović.

Career

Koci's musical idiom is markedly contemporary based on the achievement of European modern music. His works often are aleatoric, dodecaphonic and usually non-thematic. As one of the most distinguished representatives of Albanian contemporary music, his works have been performed in almost all European and many non-European countries as well as in music festivals at home and abroad.

Akil Mark Koci is one of the founders several festivals of contemporary instrumental music, such as Music Scene, Priština; Days of Kosovar Music, Đakovica; and the Kosova Music Accords, Priština. He is also a regular participant in numerous festivals of contemporary music, notably the Zagreb Biennale, UNESCO Festivals of Contemporary Music, Paris, and Tribunes of Music in Opatija, Dubrovnik, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Tirana, Warsaw and others.

Koci was a professor of musicology at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Priština. He is the recipient of several national and international awards.At different times, he occupied the posts of Secretary, Vice-President and President of the Kosovar Composers' Society as well as the President and Vice-President of the Music Society of Yugoslavia.

He is actively engaged in the domain of composition and musicology. In the scope of the latter, he has written over 250 critiques, essays and musical analyses published in various newspapers and magazines.Koci is a member of the editorial board of the music magazines Zvuk, and Nota.

Koci also host the podcast Fjala dhe Muzika, an arts programme.

He lives in London and Willingen.

Tributes

A tribute concert held in Zagreb and hosted by the Croatian Composers' Society to celebrate the composer's 70th birthday.A second tribute concert was held in Pristina on May 25, 2007 at the Red Hall, with the participation of the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra.On 29 June 2007, he was presented with a ceremonial plate in honour of his 70th birthday by His Excellency Kastriot Robo, Albanian Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Discography

*Koci, A.M., Filigranët I & II, Superstrukturat, (album) Jugoton Zagreb, 1973 (LSY 61239)
*Koci, A.M., Ab aeterno (album), Jugoton Zagreb, 1974 (LSY 61239)
*Koci, A.M., Sokoli e Mirusha (album), Jugoton Zagreb, 1974 (LSY 63067)
*Koci, A.M., Kënga e Rexhës (album), Jugoton Zagreb, 1983 (LSY 62086)

See also

*List of compositions by Akil Mark Koci by musical genre.
*Akil Koci Prize
*Fjala dhe Muzika Podcast

ources

*Youth Music. "Composer Biographies" Online http://www.singbook.org.uk/composer_akil.jsp Accessed January 20, 2007.
*YouTube. "Akil Koci 70th birthday concert" Online http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4KEvsjMAsg Accessed August 24, 2007.