Ivan Acher

A carpenter, forest worker, trained visual artist, and untrained musician and composer – Ivan Acher is all of this, as well as an uncompromising creator whose work at the crossroads of electroacoustic and contemporary music constantly pushes boundaries. In his compositions, Acher is not afraid to use unusual instruments, which he crafts himself at his native Nisský Mill, and combine them with traditional instruments. His work is rooted in progressive exploration and constant experimentation with form and sound. As a composer and performer, he has contributed to projects such as VRRM by Vladimír Václavek and Autopilote by Pavel Fajt, and he regularly performs with the jazz all-stars mini big band NUO. His extensive theatre work includes more than 300 productions, with collaborations on renowned stages such as the Prague Chamber Theatre, Divadlo Komedie, Divadlo Petra Bezruče, and the National Theatres in Prague, Bratislava, and Brno. His music for theatre and dance productions has been recognized not only in the Czech Republic but also at international festivals. Acher has been nominated for prestigious awards such as the Czech Lion, the Czech Theatre Critics’ Award, and the Alfréd Radok Award. His compositions have been performed at major classical music festivals, including the Prague Spring.