“A born musician…”
(Chaya Czernowin, Composer in Residence Salzburger Festspiele, Lucerne Festival)
“Really the ideal conductor and partner. I can only wish any orchestra and ensemble whole-heartedly to have him…”
(Elisabeth Stöppler, Stage Director, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Staatsoper Stuttgart)
“He has a truly clear sense of what an orchestra needs. And stylistic understanding...”
(Signe Madsen, Concert Master, Odense Symphony Orchestra)
“I must recommend this young conductor.”
(Thomas Søndergård, Music Director, Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
Austrian-German conductor and composer Kai Johannes Polzhofer recently conducted Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich at Grafenegg Festival in a premiere of his new orchestra composition, stepped in at Deutsche Oper am Rhein for most of the vocal, stage and orchestral rehearsals of a then celebrated production of D. Shostakovich’s “Lady McBeth of Mzensk”, as well made in 2024 his debut with the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra.
In the past he has been engaged by Bavarian State Opera Munich, worked a.o. with soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre Petersburg, conducted the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Odense Symphony, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg Opera and Ballet Theatre, soloists, chorus and orchestra of Gothenburg Opera, Ensemble Kaleidoskop Berlin, Ensemble Gageego!, the New Music ensemble of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, as well worked with leading ensembles of the contemporary music scene such as Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet, Ensemble Recherche, Ensemble Dal Niente, Ensemble Mosaik, and the JACK Quartet. He gave his debut as opera conductor with a full production of L. Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” with the orchestra and singers from Royal Conservatory Orchestra and Copenhagen Opera Academy.
Kai Johannes Polzhofer initiated and co-founded several cultural initiatives such as the Du Bois Orchestra at Harvard (fighting racism, class- and gender discrimination through classical music), forma Leipzig, Kandinsky Orchestra Petersburg, and received as conductor and composer various national and international awards (a.o. special conducting award, Chigiana 2024, selected by Daniele Gatti, Blodgett Competition Winner, Richard Wagner Scholar), as well public and private stipends (a.o. national stipends and a full doctoral stipend from Harvard University).
Kai Johannes Polzhofer graduated from Saint Petersburg State Conservatory Rimsky-Korsakov in Operatic- and Symphonic Conducting (with Alexander V. Alexeev), as well from National Soloist Class in Orchestra Conducting (with Michael Schønwandt). In composition and philosophy he graduated from Hochschule für Musik und Theater and University Leipzig and holds a PhD from Harvard University. Paavo and Neeme Järvi, Jorma Panula, as well Daniele Gatti selected him for their Masterclasses. His music is published by Edition Gravis (Berlin). He serves as artistic director of Danish-Austrian KLAR! festival and board member of NEOS MUSIC (foundation and music label).
Kai Johannes Polzhofer works in German, English, Russian, Italian and Danish.
(Izabela Matula, Soprano, Guest Soloist (Katerina Izmailova) in “Lady McBeth of Mzensk” | Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf)
"He stands out not only for his deep musicality, but also for his extraordinary empathy and understanding of the singers."
(Michael Schønwandt, Conductor | National Soloist Class)
“Kai Johannes Polzhofer lives and breathes music. One of the most interesting conductors, I have myself ever encountered in the class.”
(BR Klassik | Bayerischer Rundfunk | Bavarian Broadcast)
“The future of New Music is in best hands.”
(Göteborgs Posten)