Vienna, 1930 – 2024, London
Michael Graubart was an Austrian-born British composer, conductor and academic. Born into a Jewish family in Vienna, he and his family fled to the United Kingdom in 1938 following the Anschluss. After graduating in physics from the University of Manchester in 1952, Graubart initially worked in electronics and teaching, while studying composition with Mátyás Seiber, flute with Geoffrey Gilbert and conducting with Lawrence Leonard. His musical career was centred on London and Manchester, where he became deeply involved in both contemporary and early music.
From 1969 to 1991 he served as Director of Music at Morley College in London, developing its profile in twentieth-century music, premiering modern works, and directing ensembles such as the Focus Opera Group. He later taught at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he directed the contemporary ensemble Akanthos. As a composer, Graubart’s output was modest but respected, often informed by Viennese serialist techniques, and included orchestral and chamber works.
