Rudolf Komorous, born December 8, 1931 and educated in Prague, Czech Republic, emigrated to Canada in 1969. After teaching for two years at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, he joined in 1971 the faculty of the School of Music at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, and later became it's Director. From 1989 he served as Director of the School for the Contemporary Arts, Simon Fraser University.
 
In 1957 he won first prize in the prestigious competition for solo performers, the Concours International d'Execution Musicale in Geneva, Switzerland. This led to a two-year term (1959-61) teaching bassoon in China at Beijing Academy and Central Conservatory of Music. Komorous' involvement with the Czech avant-garde in the 1950s and '60s led to a close association with painters, sculptors and writers. This circle, known as the "Smidra Group", was influenced by Dada and surrealism. Their motto was the "aesthetic of the wonderful" through which common materials could be transformed into something sublime, mysterious or even magical.
    
 
 
In 1961 Komorous co-founded Musica Viva Pragensis, which was regarded as one of Europe's leading new music ensembles during the eight years of its existence.
 
Komorous has an extensive catalogue of works for orchestra (5 symphonies), solo instruments, voice and ensembles. He also worked in the electronic music field. His compositions have been featured at music festivals including the Venice Bienalle, Warsaw Autumn, Donaueschingen, and Prague Spring. His two operas were produced in Vancouver, Toronto, Victoria, Buffalo, and New York City. Additional information could be found in a number of music dictionaries: Grove, Rieman, Meyers, Harvard, Baker's, Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, The Canadian Encyclopedia, etc. Komorous' works were published by Universal Edition, Vienna and E.C. Kerby, Toronto. Number of his compositions are available on LPs and CDs. 

Komorous, now retired, lives in Victoria, British Columbia.