Elena Kats-Chernin

Elena Kats-Chernin (born 4 November 1957) is an Australian composer.

Elena Davidovna Kats-Chernin was born in Tashkent (now the capital of independent Uzbekistan – but then part of the Soviet Union). She studied at the Yaroslavl Music School and the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow from age 14, and migrated to Australia in 1975, continuing her studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, under Richard Toop (composition) and Gordon Watson (piano). She also participated in the Darlinghurst underground theatre scene, with groups such as Cabaret Conspiracy, Fifi Lamour, Boom Boom La Burn and others, often under the name Elena Kats.

Kats-Chernin studied with Helmut Lachenmann in Germany. She remained in Europe for thirteen years, and became active in theatre and ballet, composing for state theatres in Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg and Bochum. In 1993 she wrote Clocks for the Ensemble Modern. It has since been performed around the world.

Since returning to Australia in 1994, Kats-Chernin has written six operas (as of December 2015^[update]: Iphis, 1997, Sydney; Matricide, the Musical, 1998, Melbourne; Mr Barbeque, 2002, Lismore; Rage of Life, 2010, Antwerp; George, 2014, Hannover-Herrenhausen; The Divorce, 2015, ABC Television), two piano concertos and compositions for many performers and ensembles, including The Seymour Group, The Song Company, the Sydney Alpha Ensemble, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Chamber Made Opera, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She was also commissioned to write a piece, Page Turn, for the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition. Her music was featured at the opening ceremonies of both the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

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