Petr Kotik is a composer and conductor whose innovative work bridges classical composition and experimental music. Based in New York City since 1983, Kotik has been instrumental in advancing avant-garde and electroacoustic music throughout his career, establishing himself as a pioneering figure in contemporary classical and electronic composition.
Early in his career, Kotik founded and directed influential ensembles including Musica Viva Pragensis and the QUAX Ensemble in Prague, where he developed his distinctive approach to experimental composition. His relocation to the United States in 1969 to work at the University at Buffalo's Center for Creative and Performing Arts further solidified his role in the American avant-garde scene, where he continues to compose and conduct works that explore the intersection of traditional instrumentation and electronic sound design.