Mia Zabelka
Mia Zabelka is an Austrian contemporary violinist, improviser, and composer. Comprehensively educated in classical music from early age on she opened up the traditional understanding of the violin as solo and ensemble instrument towards improvisation, experimental music, and sound art.
Lydia Lunch describes Mia Zabelka's work as "visceral, cerebral and sensual. A gorgeous, haunting sound which employs classical interpretation and experimental improvisation to transcend musical genres, creating a sonic surround uniquely her own. She inhabits a sonic universe lush with soul cleansing vibrancy."
Collaborations
Mia Zabelka played a.o. with John Zorn, Ensemble Zeitkratzer, Pauline Oliveros and Alvin Curran.Compositions
Compositions of her got commissioned by a.o. Foundation Academy of Arts in Berlin, Ars Electronica, Wien Modern, Steirischer Herbst, New Music America, The Kitchen, and "Wiener Festwochen".Cultural work
Additional she workes as curator and artistic director for contemporary music and art festivals besides her own artistic work and concert travels.In 2007 she founded Klanghaus, a center for sound art and interdisciplinary art in Southern Styria, which organizes the Klangzeit festival four times a year. Since 2009 she has been the artistic director of phonofemme Vienna, an international festival in the field of experimental music and sound art by women. In 2015 she became President of SFIEMA. Mia Zabelka has been Vice President of the Austrian Composers' Association since 2019.Awards
After scholarships from a.o. DAAD and the Fulbright commission she received a.o. the Ars Electronica recognition award. In 2021, Mia Zabelka was awarded the Austrian Art Prize in the category ‘Music’ by the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport.Discography
2024 – Tungu / Mia Zabelka / Stefan Straßer: The Confidence of One Swimming Against the Current2021 – Mia Zabelka / Glen Hall: The Quantum Violin
2021 – Mia Zabelka / ICOSTECH: Aftershock
2020 – Myasmo
2020 – Redshift Orchestra / Mia Zabelka / Kai Niggemann: Thinking Light
2019 – Pleasure-Voltage
2019 – Live at Rewire 2018
2018 – Trio Blurb: W
2017 – From Invisible Landscapes
2017 – Cellular Resonance
2016 – Mia Zabelka / Carlos Zingaro / Jean-Marc Foussat: Dans les tiroirs
2016 – The Honey Pump
2015 – Monday Sessions
2014 – It Doesn't Belong Here
2013 – Maggie Nicols, John Russell, Mia Zabelka: Trio Blurb
2012 – Mia Zabelka Trio feat. Johannes Frisch / Pavel Fajt: Weird Tales & Elegant Motion
2011 – M