Ofer Ben-Amots - Composer
Born in Haifa, Israel in 1955, Ofer Ben-Amots gave his first piano concert at age nine, and at age sixteen was awarded first prize in the Chet Piano Competition. He started his composition and music theory studies with Joseph Dorfman at the Rubin Academy in Tel Aviv, and continued at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, and the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany. Upon his arrival in the United States in 1987, Ben-Amots studied with George Crumb at the University of Pennsylvania where he received his Ph.D. in music composition. Currently on the faculty of Colorado College, Dr. Ben-Amots is an Associate Professor of music composition and theory.
Ofer Ben-Amots' compositions are performed regularly in concert halls and festivals worldwide. He is the winner of the 1994 Vienna International Competition for Composers the 1988 Kavannagh Award, the Gold Award at South Africa's 1993 Roodepoort International Competition for Choral Composition, and the 1991 Kobe International Competition for Flute Composition in Japan, and others. Dr. Ben-Amots is a Jerusalem Fellow of the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity and its Artistic Director for North America since 1997. He serves on the Advisory and Editorial Boards of the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music.
Ofer Ben-Amots' works have been repeatedly recognized for their emotional and highly personal expression. The interweaving of folk elements with contemporary textures, along with his unique imaginative orchestration, creates the haunting dynamic tension that permeates and defines Mr. Ben-Amots' musical language. His music has been published by Baerenreiter Edition, Kallisti Music Press, Muramatsu Inc., Dorn, and Tara Publications. It can be heard on Naxos, Vantage, Plæne, Stylton, and Music Sources recording labels. For more information on Ofer Ben-Amots, visit www.oferbenamots.com
