Michael Seltenreich

Michael Seltenreich (b. 1988) is a New York based Israeli composer of contemporary music whose eclectic style is shaped by having lived and studied in Israel, France, and the United States. Having won the Toru Takemitsu Competition and the Israel Prime Minister Award launched his composition career internationally, leading to performances in five continents and by some of the world’s leading orchestras, ensembles, and soloists. 

Unlike many composers today who are categorized by their style (e.g. minimalist, avant-gardist, tonal, microtonal, etc.) Seltenreich is actively avoiding such categorizations as he navigates along the borders of countless styles at once. As he explains: “I am scared of artistic stagnation, and I am scared of repeating myself. So I’m not only set out to surprise my listeners, perhaps more so, I try to surprise myself. I encourage myself to explore something that’s new to me in every piece”. 

Seltenreich is a fast-rising star with many international awards, and with commissions usually booked up to 4 years in advance. Some of his past engagements include residencies at Aspen Music Festival (US), Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival (US), Beijing Modern Music Festival (CN), Festival Messiaen (FR), IRCAM (FR), Arts Letters & Numbers (US), Yaddo (US), and at the Atlantic Center for the Arts (US) as an Associate Artist with Georg Friedrich Haas, and many more. 

Seltenreich holds degrees in music from Tel Aviv University and The Juilliard School. He is currently working towards his PhD at New York University.