Lukas Ligeti
is a composer and improvisor whose original, innovative musical language draws from the European classical tradition, jazz, New York’s “Downtown” experimental music, and various African music traditions. Born in Vienna, Austria, he studied composition at Vienna’s University for Music and Performing Arts and holds a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He lived in New York City from 1998 until 2015, when he joined the faculty of the University of California, Irvine.

The recipient of the prestigious CalArts Alpert Award in Music, his compositions have been commissioned by Bang on a Can, Kronos Quartet, Eighth Blackbird, Ensemble Modern, the American Composers Orchestra, MDR Orchestra (Leipzig), the Vienna Festwochen, Ars Musica (Brussels), Goethe Institute, and choreographer Karole Armitage.

As a drummer, he has worked with John Zorn, Marilyn Crispell, John Tchicai, Michael Manring, Elliott Sharp, Gary Lucas, etc., and leads or co-leads several bands such as Hypercolor and Notebook. He has given solo electronic percussion concerts on five continents, performing on the Marimba Lumina, an instrument designed by Donald Buchla.

Engaged in collaborations with musicians in Africa for more than 25 years, he co-founded the ensemble Beta Foly in Côte d’Ivoire and now co-leads Burkina Electric, the first electronica band from Burkina Faso. He has also collaborated on/led projects in Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, etc.