Background
Conductor, songwriter and keyboardist Ben Bolter made his debut with the National Symphony at age 25, with The Washington Post praising his performance: “Bolter spotlighted the showiest aspects…and made it look easy.” As part of Chicago’s acclaimed Ear Taxi Festival, his world premiere of Drew Baker’s NOX was named Chicago’s Best Classical Music Performance of 2016 by the Third Coast Review.
He currently serves as Associate Director of the Northwestern University Institute for New Music and Co-Director of the Contemporary Music Ensemble, and has led premieres and performances with the International Contemporary Ensemble, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Third Coast Percussion, Spektral Quartet, and soloists including Claire Chase and Vijay Iyer — working closely with composers such as Steve Reich, Tania León, Julia Wolfe, and John Luther Adams.
Upcoming
Friday, October 23, 2026, 7:30 pm Central
Simon Steen-Andersen: Black Box Music
Contemporary Music Ensemble with Beyond This Point Percussion Duo
Galvin Recital Hall, Northwestern University
Full program: October 23
Elisa Johnson, As I am (world premiere)
Lacey Kwon, Cue (world premiere)
Conducted by Lena Wong
Intermission
Simon Steen-Andersen, Black Box Music
Adam Rosenblatt, soloist
Artistic Director: Ben Bolter
Friday, November 20, 2026, 7:30 pm Central
Music of Amy Brandon, Paul Novak, Caleb Burhans, and Salvatore Sciarrino
Contemporary Music Ensemble
Galvin Recital Hall, Northwestern University
Full program: November 20
Amy Brandon, Incipit
Paul Novak, Ship of Theseus Variations
Caleb Burhans, Escape Wisconsin
Salvatore Sciarrino, Introduzione all’oscuro
Artistic Director: Ben Bolter
Boltah Music
Beyond the podium, Ben records and performs as Boltah — an indie progressive project exploring the surreal and nostalgic through melody, keyboard, and voice. Boltah has written music for dance companies, animations, and exhibitions, including an animatic featured at the grand opening of the National Public Housing Museum in April 2025, a project that went on to receive a DCASE grant to create a published comic book.
“Quite the best of the Ear Taxi events I had witnessed up to then.”
Chicago Tribune