Benjamin Krause
A Chicago-based composer and pianist with interdisciplinary engagement across a wide range of media, Benjamin Krause is a recipient of a Copland House Residency Award, Houston Symphony Emerging Composer Award, a Presser Award, the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau’s Prix Marion Tournon Branly, and was named the 2018 Distinguished Composer of the Year by the Music Teachers National Association. His music has been performed worldwide, with performances and commissions by the Houston Symphony, Network for New Music, Da Camera of Houston, Musiqa, and the Delgani String Quartet. He received his D.M.A. from Rice University, and, as a pianist, is fluent in many idioms, from the traditional classical repertoire to new music and jazz. He often joins his wife, pianist Christina Giuca Krause, in performances as the piano duo 4x5. He has taught at Rice University, the University of Oregon, Hope College, and Valparaiso University.
Watch Benjamin’s commissioned song cycle here! You can find more on our YouTube playlist from the 2019-20 World Premiere Concert.
Defined by Words
“Silence Defined Me”
“My Best Friend”
“Rap About Girls”
“The Yellow Zoo”
“Lake Erie”
Words by Nina Szabo, Emily Friend, Aarush Srivastava, Darren Stella - Music by Benjamin Krause - performed by Nicholas Ward, Emma Smart, and Christina Giuca