Dr. Zvonimir Nagy was educated at the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb, Conservatoire de Paris “Jacques Ibert”, École Normale de Musique de Paris, Texas Christian University, and completed his doctoral studies in music composition at Northwestern University.

Dr. Nagy is Assistant Professor of Musicianship Studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where he teaches a forward-looking music theory curriculum that integrates harmony, counterpoint, form, and analysis with aural and keyboard skills, composition, and improvisation. Before coming to Duquesne, Dr. Nagy taught music theory, composition, and improvisation at St. Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois.

Cognitive science, neuroscience, and the world of digital media are major influences on contemporary culture, and all three impact Nagy’s continuing formation as a musician. As a composer, he seeks to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the psychological dimensions of music. The fascination with the perceptual qualities of musical pitch and timbre, together with their theoretical hierarchies within musical cultures, has been a principal influence on musical discourse in his recent compositions. In both vocal and instrumental works, Nagy often draws inspiration from the philosophy of sound perception and its relation to spirituality and musically sublime.

A recipient of music awards, fellowships and scholarships, both as a composer and performer, among others, Nagy received the distinguished Croatian Music Institute Award; Concours National de Piano de Paris, 1st prize; The Durington Composition Award; Chopin International Piano Competition in Texas, 1st prize; William Karlins Composition Award at Northwestern University; The Midwest Music Graduate Consortium Composition Performance Award; 2010 César Franck & Olivier Messiaen International Organ Competition in Haarlem, the Netherlands, 2nd Prize; and Swan Prize in Choral Composition at the University of Minnesota. His works have been commissioned and performed by the Zagreb Piano Trio, String Quartet Slavonsky, Jack Quartet, Belle Voix Choir, Fused Muse Ensemble, and by the composer himself. Recently, a work for unaccompanied choir and soloists, Cantus Jubilus, received its premiere by University Singers at the University of Minnesota. Nagy is a finalist for the Iron Composer Competition at Baldwin-Wallace College; he is also short listed for the Aberdeen Music Prize with his work for trumpet and string quartet, Ayres, which will receive its premiere by the musicians from the BBC Symphony Orchestra of Scotland in the Fall of 2011.

Nagy’s primary instructors include: composition – Jay Alan Yim, Augusta Read Thomas, Marko Ruzdjak; music theory – Robert Gjerdingen; organ – H. Joseph Butler; piano – Tamás Ungár, Sergei Markarov, Eugene Indjic, Damir Sekošan. He has also worked with Tristan Murail, Blaise Ferrandino, Gerald Gabel, Eugene Indjic, François- René Duchable in lessons, and with Oliver Knussen and Gerre Hancock in masterclasses.

Dr. Nagy resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, Haley.