Canadian conductor Karl Hirzer can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to be a musician. He was “composing” at the family’s upright piano at age four, taking piano lessons at 6. At 12 he started playing guitar in heavy metal bands. He earned his ARCT at 17. In 2023, Karl completed a seven-year tenure as Associate Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic. He has conducted orchestras from Vancouver to Boston, from the Gstaad Festival to educational programs in Warsaw. He studied piano performance at the University of Victoria and got his master’s at McGill University in Montreal. Especially committed to exploring music by living composers, Karl believes that modern music defines what the classical idiom is today. He’s also heavily invested in bringing music to young audiences, helping them discover a sound world that’s completely captivating. His contributions to the arts, community and education were recognized with his inclusion in Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 list for 2022. ​ He continues to perform as an instrumentalist and also composes his own music, blending genres while mixing acoustic and electronic instruments. Heads up - his first album of original material will be released in fall of 2023.