Oscar Bettison Residency with Asko|Schönberg
This season, composer Oscar Bettison collaborates on new music projects with Asko|Schönberg as the ensemble’s composer in residence.
Beginning this fall, composer Oscar Bettison is in residence with acclaimed Amsterdam-based new music ensemble Asko|Schönberg. Throughout the season, Bettison will be working onsite in Amsterdam—where the composer spent many formative years of his career—developing music in close collaboration with the ensemble.
As part of the residency, Bettison has been commissioned to write a new work that reflects upon the great classic De Staat by Louis Andriessen, Bettison’s former composition teacher. The new large ensemble work will premiere in fall 2024 in the Netherlands. Details about additional compositions as part of the residency will be announced in the future.
Bettison states:
I first discovered Asko| Schönberg when I was an undergraduate student, listening to their recordings of Andriessen, such as De Materie. It seemed like their recordings were the definitive performances of that music, but later on, I heard incredible recordings they made of Messiaen, Carter, Knussen, Kurtag, and Ligeti. I was thrilled to write my first opera The Light of Lesser Days for them in the 2021, and I am very happy that that collaboration has turned into something more substantial. Therefore, I feel truly honored to be named their composer in residence.
Bettison’s work will also include a 10-day research residency at GRASpunt Amsterdam, to experiment with various aspects of composition with students, musicians, creators, and technicians over the course of two weeks. Bettison will also serve as a guest lecturer at Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag, where he will lead masterclasses and teach private lessons.
Photo: Kyle Dorosz
