Dutch composer, sound designer, instrumentalist and digital artist Jan-Bas Bollen (Amsterdam, 1961) has written music for many soloists, ensembles and theatre productions and his works are frequently performed in The Netherlands and abroad. Among his recent compositions there are works for Ensemble Klang, Percussion Group The Hague, Matangi String Quartet, Array Music Toronto, LOOS, HEXNUT, David Kweksilber Big Band and Trio 7090. He often uses (live-) electronics and also creates computer compositions as well as installations. Many of his works include the use of interactive video. He frequently collaborates with dancers and choreographers like Ross Cooper (UK) and Daniel Belton (NZ). Together with Alison Isadora he forms the multimedia performance duo SYNC and he regularly performed with the Dutch groups LOOS and LEAMO and the Australian percussionist Steve Heather. Bollen taught composition and New Media at Codarts Classical Music Academy in Rotterdam.

Here is a list of some of his main musical activities:

MUSICAL EDUCATION

• 1989 - 1993: Royal Conservatory The Haugue, Netherlands: Composition, Electronic Music and Sonology with Theo Loevendie, Gilius van Bergeijk and Louis Andriessen.
• 1987: Conservatorium Utrecht, Netherlands: Composition with Joep Straesser.
• 1972 - 1979: Conservatorium Amsterdam, Netherlands: Violin performance with Herman Krebbers and Jeanelotte Herzberger.
• 1967 -1972: Violin studies with Jan Bor.

Selected Courses

• 2002: Supercollider DSP course, Steim, Amsterdam. Lecturer: Joel Ryan
• 1999: International Course for Professional Choreographers and Composers, Wakefield, England. Supervisors: Robert Cohan, Nigel Osborne.
• 1995: ISCM Kazimierz Dolny, Poland. Lecturers: Tom Johnson, Jonathan Kramer, Louis Andriessen, Pavel Szymanski; Workshop Carnatic percussion by Mr. S. Mani.

RECENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE (selection)

• 2006 - 2017: Lecturer in Composition & New Media, Master Research Supervisor at CodArts Classical Music Academy, Rotterdam, NL.
• 2007: lectures on Creativity at the Phylosophy Interfaculty, University of Amsterdam, NL.
• 2005 - 2009: lecturer in Composition at ArtEZ Conservatorium, NL.
• 2006 and 2010: Intensive 14 day workshops with Matangi String quartet ‘Write Your Own Song’ for high-school students, different cities in NL.
• 1998 - 2001: lecturer at the Faculty for Art, Media and Technology at the Utrecht University College for the Arts, Hilversum, NL.
• 1998: 12 part course “Digital Sound technology” Canterbury University, workshops at Victoria University of Wellington and the Waikato University of Hamilton, NZ.
• 1995 - 1996: Teacher Buitenkunst ('Outside Art' summer course), Drenthe, NL.
• 1994 - 1995: Workshops and lectures in Warsaw (Poland) and Moscow (Russia).
• 1994: Workshops and lectures in Kiev (Ukraine).
• 1991: Workshops and lectures in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, NZ.

RECENT ACTIVITIES AS A PERFORMER (selection)

• 2015: Trio ERTZ with Aart Strootman, electric guitar and Joost Buis, trombone.
• 2010: Duo with Lukas Simonis (e-gtr)
• 2010: Trio Simonis - Bollen - Heather.
• 2007 - 2009: LOOS member on electric bass.
• 2007: Festival Neue Musik Lünenburg solo digital bass project, also in various Dutch cities.
• 2007: Electric Bass and acting in 'Conversations with Ice' by Sahr Ngaujah. 5 - 14 July, Over het IJ Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Featuring a.o.: Justin Ellington, Kebbi Williams, Jahi Kearse, Alison Isadora.
• 1998 - present: Improvisation duo HEATHER AND BOLLEN on electric violin, electric bass, as composer and sound designer with the Australian percussionist Steve Heather. 3 CD albums released:
  1. 'Heather & Bollen' (1998)
  2. 'Critical Distance' (2000)
  3. 'Antibiotik' (2003)
• 1999 - present: Active as DJ, later mainly as remixer.
• 1997: Keyboard, violin and band leader in 60 performances of an arrangement by composer Yannis Keriakides of Kurt Weill’s Three Penny Opera (Toneelgroep De Appel in The Haugue)
• 1996 - present: SYNC (co-founder with Alison Isadora). Diverse cross-media performances including A Small Wash (1996 Crossing Borders Festival The Haugue), The Big Shop (1998 Dutch Music Days), Born and Bred (2001Dunedin Public Art Gallery), The Deep South (2002 Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam) and Trace (2008 Dunedin Public Art Gallery).
• 1996: Violin and piano duo with Fréderic Lagnau (a.o. UNICEF Gala in Dublin).
• 1995 - 96: Violinist in International Gaudeamus Music Week.
• 1993 - 96: Violinist in Residential Bach Orchestra in The Haugue.
• 1970: youngest participant Oscar Back Violin Competition.

 

MANAGEMENT AND ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE (selection)

• 2003 - 2006: Vice-chairman of the Dutch Composers Union C96.
• 1999 - 2003: Programming committee Rumori Festival.
• 1990 - 1997: Artistic Leader and Manager of Ensemble HEX.
• 1987: Musical Leader in Will Spoor’s Mime company Inccoprodinc.
• 1982 - 85: Musical assistant for chamber opera company ‘De Lyrische Komedie’