The following ensembles have commissioned my work:
Anoka H.S. Concert Band
American Suzuki Foundation
Article II, St. Olaf College
ASTEC
Cantus
Choirs of Note
Choral Arts Ensemble
Cornell Women's Chorus
Dale Warland Singers
Ensemble of the North
Healthy People Ad Campaign
Hopkins HS Concert Choir
Hopkins HS Women's Choir
Indep. School District 191
Jennifer Swanson, soprano
Joe Olson, Twin Cities Hardingfelelag
Kantorei (Denver, CO)
Katherine Tripoli, soprano
Linda Chatterton, flute
The Linden Duo
Marian Dolan, conductor
Mary Hofer for Suzuki Institute
Minnesota Chorale
Pamela and Jesse Hennum
Rob Grace and Krysti Adams
Ruth Palmer, conductor
St. Paul Conservatory of Music
Sing for Joy radio program
Steven Staruch, viola
Suzanne Asher, poet
The Esoterics
The Rose Ensemble
The Schubert Club
The Singers--MN Choral Artists
University of MN Men's Choir
Young New Yorkers' Chorus
Youth Chorale of Central MN
Influences
"CLASSICAL"
Francis Poulenc, Olivier Messiaen, Johannes Brahms, Samuel Barber, Herbert Howells, Gian Carlo Menotti, Dominick Argento, Libby Larsen, Judith Zaimont, Philip Lasser, Mary Ellen Childs
JAZZ:
Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Chick Corea, Alfred Burt
CHORAL:
Dale Warland Singers, St. Olaf Choir, Cantus, The Rose Ensemble
OTHER:
Stephen Sondheim, Frank Loesser, Chris Thile, The Andrews Sisters, Manhattan Transfer, The Real Group, Jeff Moss & Joe Raposo
ABBIE BETINIS is a composer of concert music. Her music has been reviewed as "whirling, soaring" (Bar Xizam), "contemporary and compelling" (Remember O Thou Man), and "audacious... edgy... and thrilling" (Cedit Hyems).
At age 28, Abbie has received over forty commissions for new work, by organizations such as the American Suzuki Foundation, Cantus, the Dale Warland Singers, The Rose Ensemble, The Schubert Club, and the Young New Yorkers Chorus. In November 2007, the Minneapolis Star Tribune named her one of Minnesota's nine "Young Artists On the Verge."
Abbie has received grants and awards from the American Composers Forum, American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP), Cambridge Madrigal Singers, the Esoterics, Minnesota Music Educators Association, and, in 2005, won the University of Minnesota's national Craig and Janet Swan Composer Competition. Her published music is available from Augsburg Fortress, Graphite Publishing, Kjos, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, and now as part of G. Schirmer's Dale Warland Series.
Always an enthusiast of language and culture, Abbie's recent compositions investigate topics as varied as ancient Greek binding spells, African melorhythm, early American shape-note singing, and Sufi mysticism. A recent piece for The Rose Ensemble explores the pre-Christian Gaelic tradition of keening in a staged piece for solo soprano, mixed chorus, Gaelic harp, bodhran, and vielle. (To listen to it, click "An Caoineadh" on this page).
Originally from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Abbie holds a BA from St. Olaf College, where she studied primarily with Peter Hamlin and Mary Ellen Childs. Upon receiving scholarships from the European American Musical Alliance, she spent two summers at La Schola Cantorum and l'Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, France, where she studied harmony and counterpoint in the tradition of Nadia Boulanger with faculty from Juilliard and the Paris Conservatory. She recently earned her MA from the University of Minnesota, under the mentorship of Judith Zaimont.
Currently in her third year as a composer-in-residence with The Schubert Club, Abbie lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota (with a tortoise named Milton).
Hi Abbie how is Music going in the USA? Here in Italy things are going well. I have a new composition for wind octet that will be played at the Marini Museum in Florence Italy. What are you working on now? Sincerely Anthony Sidney
Hi Bert! I just rolled by and listened to a good half hour of your music in Myspace. That's a great way to present music, I'll have to figure it out for my own site. I like your style, it really reminds me of St. Olaf, Boe Chapel and the music building mainly. It was nice.
Thanks for the compliments! "Sweet's ensemble plays nice" that would be a great tagline! I went to highschool with a guy that had the last name Blessing. He said once that if our music careers ever fall through we should open a recording studio call "Nice Blessing recording studio"
Hi, actually went to your website to prove to a friend of mine that I knew a "real live composer" and saw that you had a MySpace page. Sounds like you've been a busy bee over the last few years! Yay for you! Amanda and I took a trip up to Rosholt last summer and visited all the old spots. I can't believe how much has changed... and stayed the same!
We look forward to your Saturday performance with great joy, as they say in the hymn-writing biz. Not that we know much about that biz. But we've heard, you know. We believe they say this.
Hi Abbie, Good to find you on myspace as well. Congrats on all your success. I am sorry you missed Clea's concert, too--nothing on the horizon for the Twin Cities at the moment, but I'll certainly let you know. I love it there. Cheers, Geoffrey
Hi Abbie. This is a great idea. I know of no single all-encompassing handbook. I’ll snoop around my sources and let you know if I find anything. In the meantime, if you ever have any questions/ideas you want to bounce off of me I am more than happy to help. I’m very into helping out composers with my quirky instrument. (Who knows, this type of correspondence might easily evolve into the very book you seek. We could make millions!) Btw, your music is quite lovely. I hope someday we can find a project to work on. All the best, Kris
I love your blend of voices and percussion in the "Mary and Gabriel" setting. Your music inspires me to try my hand at writing more choral music. Very vibrant and artful composing here! Much success to you. And yes... hearing Paul O'Dette play can make anyone a lute fan!
happy new year, abbie! i had always suspected that Dormi Jesu may have been about me! Thanks for reminding me of my Paris adventures! Schola was the best! let me know when you have a performance in San Diego! you are a superstar!
Thanks for checking out my choral music. The Odes of Solomon pieces were recorded by the Ars Brunensis Chorus in Brno, Czech Republic. You can hear the other two in the set on my website: gregbartholomew.com
The recording of Leo is one of the premiere performances by the Esoterics, who commissioned it. I attended their performance of your piece at St. Joe's -- congratulations!
Congratulations, too, on your JCCP grant!! I put together what I thought was a terrific proposal but they didn't bite on it.
Thanks so much for the add! I'm absolutely delighted to be able to have your music on my page--I visit my profile just to hear it.
My concertgoing companion and I heard the Esoterics perform "Bar Xizam" again a couple of weekends ago, and we agreed it was even more amazing on the second hearing...
