Elena Rykova (Russia)
Composer and Associate Professor of Composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo
Elena Rykova explores sound as a spatial and temporal phenomenon. Combining traditional instruments with found objects, movement, and performative situations, she creates pieces that unfold as intricate sound worlds rather than linear narratives. Her scores often employ nontraditional notation and exist equally as visual and performative artifacts.
She has written solo, chamber, and ensemble works, electroacoustic works, music theatre pieces, and musical performances for major new music groups around the world, as well as music for film and visual media. Her recent work also explores human–AI interaction through experimental interfaces for memory, reflection, and creative thought.
She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University, where she also taught composition and electroacoustic music as a Teaching Fellow.
Elena is currently based in Lausanne, Switzerland. She serves on the programming committee of Société de Musique Contemporaine (SMC) and as a board member of Swiss Music Edition (SME). From 2024 to 2026, she was Artistic Director of the Basel-based ensemble Lemniscate.
She is currently Associate Professor of Composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. In Spring 2026, she was Guest Professor at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) in Barcelona.