Ben Bolter

Background

MM, Indiana University

Associate Director, Institute for New Music and Co-Director of Contemporary Music Ensemble. Ben Bolter made his orchestral conducting debut with the National Symphony Orchestra at age 25, with the Washington Post praising his performance: “Bolter spotlighted the showiest aspects...and made it look easy.” As part of Chicago's acclaimed Ear Taxi Festival, his world premiere of Drew Baker's NOX was named Chicago's Best Classical Music Performance of 2016 by the Third Coast Review. John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune remarked: "[Drew Baker's] NOX made an altogether striking close to an absorbing, eclectic program, quite the best of the Ear Taxi events..." Bolter has also served as an assistant conductor with the Indianapolis Symphony and has been a frequent guest at the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Bolter has worked with some of the country’s leading new music ensembles. He led the inaugural performance of the acclaimed Grossman Ensemble in what the Chicago Tribune described as a “historic” debut and a performance that “set a high standard for itself — and lofty expectations for the concerts ahead.” He has also worked extensively with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Third Coast Percussion, Spektral Quartet, Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Square Peg Round Hall, and soloists, including Claire Chase, Tony Arnold, Kate Soper, Vijay Iyer, Iarla Ó’Lionáird, among others. Bolter has given world premieres by Shulamit Ran, Sam Pluta, Marcos Balter, Tonia Ko, Anthony Cheung, and Matthew Peterson and has worked closely with major figures such as Steve Reich, Tania León, Julia Wolfe, John Luther Adams, David Lang, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Under the stage name “Boltah,” he has released original songs on streaming platforms and performed at venues nationwide. Boltah collaborates with artists across multiple disciplines and has music featured in animations and exhibitions. His recent collaboration with artists/writers Monica Rickert-Bolter and Joel Rickert will be featured in an animatic as part of the grand opening of the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago in December 2024.