Biography:

Marios Joannou Elia, described already by international critics as "phenomenal", "the sound magician" and as "one leading figure of the new generation of composers" was born 1978 in Cyprus. While and after absolving high school with distinction (1996), he began studying at the European Conservatory in Pafos (classical guitar) and the New Conservatory of Cyprus in Nicosia (music theory) absolving both with distinction (1996, 1998). After succeeding the last exams in music theory and classical guitar from the Assoc. Board of the Royal Schools of Mu-sic London, begun 1998 his studies at the University of Arts and Music "Mozarteum" Salz-burg by A. Hoelszky / B. Schaeffer in composition and in the guitar class of M. Seidel / M. D. Tamayo as well as his music education study (W. Roscher). In the academic year 2001/02 Marios Joannou Elia was announced as the best student of the University for which he re-ceived a scholarship from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Art.

Bachelor Degrees with Distinction in composition (2004), music education (2004) and con-cert guitar (2003). Additional studies in the composition master class of K. Huber at the Music Academy in Basel (2003/04).

Furthermore he participated in master courses and music festivals among others in Austria (Impuls Composition Academy Graz 2005, Internationale Summer Academy Mozarteum, 10. International Academy for New Composition And Audio Art Schwaz, Forum Guitar Vienna, 20th International Innviertler Guitar Seminar, 19th/21th/22th International Symposium for Polyaesthetic Education), Germany (3rd Stockhausen Courses Kuerten, Weimar master courses (composition), 9th International "A. Carlevaro" Festival, Instituto Cervantes Munich, International guitar festival Gevelsberg, STEIM LiSa X / New Music Theater Stuttgart), Po-land (6th International Workshop of Contemporary Music, New Technologies and Multime-dia), England (Dartington International Summer School) and Lichtenstein (LiGiTa) with art-ists like K. Stockhausen, B. Lang, B. Furrer, L. Brouwer and A. Pierri.

In international composition competitions he obtained Prizes and Distinctions so far, between others in Italy (Distinction und 3rd Prize at the 5°/ 7° Concorso Internazionale di Composizi-one Chitarristica Paolo Barsacchi 2000/2002, Distinction beim 12° Concorso Internazionale per Giovani Musicisti "Citta di Barletta" – Composizione 2002, 3rd Prize at the 7° Concorso Internazionale "Città di Pavia" – Composizione 2002, 3rd Prize at the 13° Concorso Interna-zionale "Città di Barletta"/ Premio Internazionale di Composizione "Città della Disfida" 2003), England (Hinrichsen Foundation Award London 2003, Ensemble Eleven Young Com-posers Competition Manchester 2003), Holland (Best National Entry during the EXPO Kaat-sheuvel 2003), Greece (1st Prize at the 2nd International Composition Competition of Volos 2004), Austria (Annerkennungspreis at the Kompositionswettbewerb des Salzburger und Pin-zgauer Blasmusikverbandes 1999/2000, Distinction by the Kreativwettbewerb ZukunftLeben of the Robert-Jungk Bibliothek / Prolit Foundation / City of Salzburg 2003, Raiffeisen Klassik Preis 2004) and Poland (1st Prize at the Lutosławski Award 2004)

He was supported with scholarships and commissions, that enabled his studies, among others from Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus, Ministry of Education and Culture, Archbishop Makarios C´ Foundation, Cultural Department "Bank of Cyprus"), England (Dartington Festival), Es-tonia (New Estonia Musica Nova), Poland (Gdañsk Music Academy), Lichtenstein (LiGiTa), Switzerland (City of Basel), Austria (Republic of Austria, Austrian Chancellor, Ministry for Education Science and Culture, Ministry of Economy, Pro Scientia, KulturKontak Austria, Austro Mechana, C. M. Ziehrer Foundation, University Mozarteum, Summer Academy Mo-zarteum) and Germany (1. Vogtlaendischen Vorderverein, Music Academy F. Liszt).

Marios Joannou Elia graduated performances among others in Germany (Munich, Weimar), France (Festival Synthèse Bourges), Austria (Rupertinum Museum of Modern Art, Literatur-haus Salzburg, Kuenstlerhaus Salzburg, Radio Kultur Vienna, G. Rendl Tagen, University Mozarteum, University of Salzburg, C. Orff Institute, Beethoven Saal Vienna, International Symposium for Polyaesthetic Eduacation, Pro Scientia Summer Academy Kaernten), Italy (A. Gigli International Festival), England (University of Cambridge, Anglia Polytechnic Univer-sity, Royal College of Music Manchester, Dartington Festival), Switzerland (Musik academy of the city of Basel), Poland (Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, Forum Lutosławskiego, 6. New Mu-sic Festival Gdañsk), Greece (Ionian University, University of Macedonia), Slovakia (Me-thodical Educational Centre Prešov, University of Žilina and Cyprus (Spring Concert Days).

Publications by Peter Lang-Verlag Frankfurt am Main, JBZ- Verlag Salzburg and Irisblaetter Salzburg. CD recording by the Agenda Edizioni Musicali, Bologna.

At the moment he is a scientific and artistic Assistant in the composition department of the University Mozarteum Salzburg. The work of Marios Joannou Elia contains more than fifty compositions of all music genres. Besides that, he is working intensive with playwrights and literature.