Dr. Maria Kaoutzani

Maria Kaoutzani is an Illinois-based composer from Limassol, Cyprus. Recent projects include a concerto for the Grammy-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a residency at Hartford Women Composers Festival in 2023, a National Sawdust residency in the 2019-20 season, Pomegranate Institute and UCLA's Notes on Napkins, Hocket ensemble's #What2020SoundsLike, "Chicago Speaks" with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and residencies at Anderson Center for the Arts and Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild. Past collaborators include the ~Nois saxophone quartet, Chartreuse trio, Desdemona string quartet, Zafa Collective, Rubiks Collective, Longleash trio, Imani Winds, the Grossman ensembles and many others.

Maria holds a PhD in music composition at the University of Chicago, a master's degree from New York University and a bachelor's degree from the University of York. Along with composers Gemma Peacocke and Shelley Washington, she is a founding member of composer collective Kinds of Kings.