Bálint Bolcsó (*1979) is a composer and improviser based in Budapest, Hungary. Many of his compositions explore unique situations such as placing an improviser into an interactive environment, researching the limits of a MIDI controlled concert organ or controlling an instrumental ensemble by a laptop performer. As an electronic musician, he is an avid participant of the Budapest free improvisation scene. Recent performances and releases include duos with Jonas Kocher, Christian Kobi, Zsolt Sőrés, István Grencsó, Bálint Baráth, Attila Gyárfás and Oli Mayne. He is a member of various groups such as the Budapest Improvisers Orchestra and the Hermina Artist Collective. Currently active bands include Less Is More 4, BMK (BolcsóMayneKitzinger), Kamon Kardamom, Quelquefois and GÏNGÏLÏ. Besides creating music and sound installations, he teaches computer music at the University of Pécs and at the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest.

Bálint Bolcsó was born in 1979 in Budapest. He studied instrumental and electroacoustic composition at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest (with György Orbán, Zoltán Jeney and Andrea Szigetvári) and at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna (with Iván Erőd, Michael Jarrell and Dieter Kaufmann). In 2009 he received a DAAD scholarship and spent a year in Hanover/Cologne where he studied with Johannes Schöllhorn. He received a DLA doctoral degree at the Liszt Academy in 2015 (title of thesis: Designing an Interactive Music System with an Acoustic Sound Source). He creates instrumental, vocal and electroacoustic works, interactive sound installations, and applied music for film, dance and theatre, and uses live electronics in both composed and improvised music situations. Many of his compositions explore unique situations such as placing an improviser into an interactive environment, researching the limits of a MIDI controlled concert organ or controlling an instrumental ensemble by a laptop performer. For a period of ten years, he was a returning participant at the International Bartók Seminar in Szombathely, Hungary. His compositions have been performed at the Bartók Festival, Budapest Autumn Festival, Making New Waves, Wien Modern, mise-en music festival (New York), CAFe Budapest and Transparent Sound New Music Festival, among others. As an avid participant in the Budapest free improvisation scene, he often collaborates with local and international musicians. Recent performances and releases include duos with Jonas Kocher, Christian Kobi, Zsolt Sőrés, István Grencsó, Bálint Baráth, Attila Gyárfás and Oli Mayne. He is a member of various groups including the Budapest Improvisers Orchestra and the Hermina Artist Collective. He teaches computer music at the University of Pécs (since 2011) and at the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest (since 2014). In 2016 he was awarded a postdoctoral scholarship within the New National Excellence Program.

Academic teaching

2011-Univesity of Pécs, Faculty of Arts (Electronic Music and Media Arts programme)
2013-2015Budapest College of Communication and Business (Music Informatics)
2014-Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest (Electroacoustic composition)

Studies

1993-1997Bartók Secondary School Budapest, composition faculty, István Fekete Győr
1997-2006Liszt Academy of Music Budapest, composition faculty, György Orbán, Zoltán Jeney, Andrea Szigetvári. Master’s degree in composition
1999-2007Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, composition (Iván Erőd, Michael Jarrell) and electroacoustic composition (Dieter Kaufmann). Master’s degree in both disciplines
2004Conservatoire Nat. Sup. de Musique et de Danse Paris, ERASMUS programme, Frédéric Durieux
2008-2012DLA doctorate studies at the Liszt Academy of Music Budapest
2009-2010Studies with Johannes Schöllhorn in Hannover and Cologne (DAAD scholarship)
2015DLA degree in composition

Courses, competitions

1998-2008International Bartók Seminar Szombathely, Hungary: composition courses with Dennis Smalley, Michael Jarrell, Marco Stroppa, Manuel Hidalgo, Martin Bresnick, Jonathan Harvey, Mesias Maiguashca, Johannes Schöllhorn, Gyula Csapó
1999Prague-Vienna-Budapest Summer Academy Reichenau, Austria: composition course with József Soproni
2003“Confluencias Miniaturas” competition Huelva, Spain: electroacoustic piece “Farblos” selected into the final round
2005“9th International Academy for New Composition and Audio-Art”, Seefeld in Tirol, Austria, Richard Boulanger (with support of KulturKontakt Austria)
2006Invited to Weimar, Germany to the final selection for the Franz Liszt Scholarship of the Hochschule für Musik
2006“Farblos” wins second prize at the electroacoustic composition contest “Short Cuts: Beauty” of ZKM Karlsruhe, in the framework of World New Music Festival Stuttgart, Germany
2007Centre Acanthes 2007 Metz, France: chosen to participate in the composition for ensemble workshop

Scholarships, grants

2003Theodor Körner Prize (Austria)
2003, 2006, 2007Zoltán Kodály Composers’ Grant (Ministry of National Cultural Heritage, Hungary)
2009DAAD scholarship (Germany)
2016Postdoctoral scholarship (New National Excellence Program, Hungary)

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