Austrian Society for Contemporary Music

The Österreichische Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische Musik (ÖGZM; Austrian Society for Contemporary Music) is an Austrian association dedicated to the performance and dissemination of contemporary music. It was founded on 4 February 1949 in the Kammersaal of the Musikverein building in Vienna by a group of composers and musicians including Theodor Berger, Armin Kaufmann, Joseph Marx, Fritz Racek, Marcel Rubin, Alfred Uhl and Raimund Weissensteiner. Its opening concert took place on 19 March 1949 in the Brahms-Saal of the Wiener Musikverein. Since its founding the ÖGZM has organized more than 900 events devoted to music of the present day, understood in the tradition of serious or art music. The society describes itself as a platform for composers, performers, musicologists, critics and music lovers. It currently has around 190 members and stages 20 to 25 concerts, workshops and symposia each year. Its stated principles include openness to a wide range of aesthetic approaches and the involvement of all generations. The ÖGZM's objectives include advocating for the interests of contemporary music creators, particularly through encouragement and mediation as well as the performance of their works; cooperation on the national and international music scene; exchange of information on practical and scholarly questions in the field of contemporary music; and the organization of projects serving these purposes. The society is led by a board (Vorstand) whose president since 2026 has been Alisa Kobzar, succeeding Morgana Petrik, who served from 2011 to 2026. Honorary presidents include Morgana Petrik and Werner Hackl. In addition to concerts, the ÖGZM maintains a YouTube channel and photo albums documenting its activities. Recent and upcoming projects include the Schallwende Festival for New Music in Feldkirch, the Zeitklang im Museum series, and the KLANG_SPRACHEN 2026 concerts in Bludenz, Vienna and Innsbruck. The society also publishes obituaries and member news, reflecting its role as a community hub for Austrian contemporary music.

The Österreichische Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische Musik (ÖGZM) was founded on 4 February 1949 in the Kammersaal of the Musikverein building in Vienna. The founding proponents included Theodor Berger, Armin Kaufmann, Joseph Marx, Fritz Racek, Marcel Rubin, Alfred Uhl and Raimund Weissensteiner. The inaugural concert was held on 19 March 1949 in the Brahms-Saal of the Wiener Musikverein. From its beginnings the society defined itself as a performance society (Aufführungsgesellschaft) dedicated to the dissemination of contemporary music, understood as serious music. Over the decades it has organized more than 900 events. Its activities include advocating for the interests of contemporary music creators, fostering national and international cooperation, facilitating information exchange on practical and scholarly questions, and organizing projects that serve these aims. The presidency of the ÖGZM has changed over the years. Alfred Uhl served from 1949 to 1954. Leopold Matthias Walzel followed from 1956 to 1966. Karl Franz Müller led from 1966 to 1972 (possibly longer). Heinrich Gattermeyer was president from 1973 to 1984, Karl Peter Pietsch from 1984 to 1991, Peter Roczek from 1991 to 2001, Werner Hackl from 2001 to 2008, Christian Heindl from 2008 to 2011, and Morgana Petrik from 2011 to 2026. Since 2026 Alisa Kobzar has been president. Today the ÖGZM has around 190 members and organizes 20 to 25 concerts, workshops and symposia annually. It remains a platform for composers, performers, musicologists, critics and music lovers, with a stated commitment to openness to diverse aesthetic approaches and the involvement of all generations. The society maintains a YouTube channel and photo albums, and collaborates with festivals and ensembles such as the Wiener Concert-Verein and Ensemble Zeitfluss.

• 2026

  Alisa Kobzar becomes president.

• 2011

  Morgana Petrik becomes president (until 2026).

• 2008

  Christian Heindl becomes president (until 2011).

• 2001

  Werner Hackl becomes president (until 2008).

• 1991

  Peter Roczek becomes president (until 2001).

• 1984

  Karl Peter Pietsch becomes president (until 1991).

• 1973

  Heinrich Gattermeyer becomes president (until 1984).

• 1966

  Karl Franz Müller becomes president (until 1972?).

• 1956

  Leopold Matthias Walzel becomes president (until 1966).

• 1949

  Founding assembly on 4 February in the Kammersaal of the Musikverein building in Vienna.

• 1949

  Opening concert on 19 March in the Brahms-Saal of the Wiener Musikverein.

• 1949

  Alfred Uhl becomes president (until 1954).

Platform for composers, performers, musicologists, critics and music lovers, promoting contemporary music in Austria.

Product categories. Concerts of contemporary music · Workshops · Symposia · Festivals

1. 1ÖGZM – Österreichische Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische Musikoegzm.at
2. 2Über uns – ÖGZMoegzm.at
3. 3Österreichische Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische Musikwikidata.org
4. 4Österreichische Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische Musikde.wikipedia.org