Meridian Music Composers in Performance Series presents new works by Nils Bultmann, San Francisco-based violist, improviser, and composer with CNMAT composer, improvisor, David Wessel on electronic slabs.

Rooted in classical technique and tradition, Nils Bultmann has developed his own voice within the context of a wide variety of musical styles and art forms. Active as a performer in the United States and Europe, he plays both classical repertoire as well as his own compositions and is involved in collaborative projects of dance, video, and avant-garde improvised music. He has generated an expansive body of work in the recording studio, including solo and multi-track viola music as well as collaborative and improvised musical textures. He also writes through- composed works for traditional instrumentation including solo pieces, string quartets, and orchestral music.

Nils was born in 1975 to a German father and American mother and was raised in Madison WI, while traveling often to Germany. His mother introduced him to music at an early age and he began to study viola and piano. Nils received his B.A. from the University of Madison-Wisconsin on a music scholarship, studying viola performance with Sally Chisholm as well as German Literature.

He briefly explored pursuing the path of an orchestral violist, participating in the National Repertory Orchestra, the Jerusalem International Symphony, and as a fellow in the New World Symphony under conductor Michael Tilson-Thomas from 2000-2001.

Since then he has turned his focus towards improvisation and composition, performing in enviorments ranging from Indian classical music, electronic DJ settings, and with dance companies.
He self-produced and recorded two solo CDs of his own compositions, “Forgiveness” (2003) and “Terminally Unique” (2007) He was also featured as a member of the Transatlantic Art Ensemble performing new works by jazz Saxophonists’ Roscoe Mitchell and Evan Parker released on ECM records.
Upcoming projects include a new CD featuring recordings of his series of viola duets with Hank Dutt of the Kronos String Quartet, as well as premiere recording of a solo viola piece by Roscoe Mitchell written for him for the Rogue Art label.

Nils has been the recipient of many awards including the Music Omi composer’s residency fellowship in upstate New York, the Djerassi artist residency in northern California, and at the Ucross Foundation’s resident artist program in Wyoming. He has received several Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission arts grants and was the recipient of the Madison Arts Council Signature Arts Grant.

He is currently a fellow at UC Berkeley working with David Wessel and Edmund Campion at the Center for New Music and Technology, creating interactive works and video installation pieces.