|
 Originally
a native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Bohlen has spent most of his adult
career in the United States. Early establishing himself as a pianist in
Canada, he was awarded the Coronation Prize enabling him to be presented
as both a solo recitalist and concerto performer. His education in the
United States included the completion of degree programs from the
Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Princeton University, and the
University of Michigan, at which institutions he was apprenticed in both
piano and composition with Walter Aschaffenburg, Roger Sessions, Milton
Babbitt, Ross Lee Finney, Leslie Bassett and Gyorgy Sandor. During his
studies at the University of Michigan he was recognized as being in the
forefront of pianists involved in the premiere presentation of music for
solo piano. Bohlen, who has been a member of the Fredonia School of
Music faculty since 1974, has been responsible for the establishment of
a nationally recognized program for the training of young composers and
was the recipient of the 2003 Presidents Award for Excellence in
Teaching. He founded
and functions as an active faculty advisor for ETHOS, a new music
society which, with the 2002-03 season, celebrated twenty-five years of
support for the performance of contemporary music on the Fredonia campus.
Bohlen has written for a wide variety of musical
media including choral works, chamber music, compositions for solo
piano, opera, and music for film. 'Autumn
Variations', scored for piano, B-flat clarinet, and bassoon, recently
received its premiere performance by the Tremani Trio at the Nusound 2
Festival in Fredonia. The composer is currently at work on ‘Crystal
Gold’, a four-movement concerto for piano and wind-percussion
ensemble, to be premiered in the 2004-5 season. This composition is
being prepared for soloist Phyllis East and conductor Paula Holcomb who
have often demonstrated their dedication to new music in performances of
music by the composer and contributions to contemporary music festivals
sponsored by the ETHOS New Music Society. |