Tona Scherchen

Full biography Tona Scherchen

Tona Scherchen was a Swiss composer born in 1938 in Neufchtel, Switzerland. She came from a highly musical family, with her mother being the composer Hsiao Shu-Sien and her father being the eminent German conductor Hermann Scherchen. Tona Scherchen's musical talent developed early, and she went on to study composition with the likes of Darius Milhaud and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Scherchen's works spanned a range of genres, from chamber music to electronic music, and were influenced by a variety of musical traditions. She also contributed to the development of new music in China during the 1980s and 1990s, where she lived and worked for many years.

Scherchen's compositions are noted for their unique blend of Western and Eastern musical elements, as well as their innovative use of technology. Despite her relatively small number of compositions, her work has been highly regarded and has been performed in prestigious venues and festivals around the world.

Overall, Tona Scherchen was a talented and innovative composer who made significant contributions to modern music. Her unique musical voice and cross-cultural approach continue to inspire and influence musicians and composers to this day.