Selim Göncü aims to create a personal balance of contrasting polarities in his music. Raw gestures are contrasted with transparent textures, elegant timbres are interrupted/combined with abrupt impulses, and obsessively-mechanical loops are interpolated with freely flowing improvisations.
He graduated from the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz with the highest distinction and is continuing his doctoral studies in composition at University of California, Berkeley.
He has been honored with 2021 Fromm Commissioning Award from Harvard University, Salvatore Martirano Composition Award, Ettelson Composer’s Award, Chamber Music of California’s California Prize, and Nicola de Lorenzo Prize in Composition (three times).
While at MacDowell in 2020 Selim worked on his composition for synthesizer and large ensemble, written for New York based sinfonietta Ensemble Echappé. The work would be premiered in New York during the ensemble's 2020-21 season. In 2023 he worked on a new piece commissioned by the Fromm Commissioning Award. The work is for synthesizer and ensemble, and will be premiered in San Francisco by the Ninth Planet New Music Ensemble.
