bio

2011~ Anna Höstman is a Canadian composer whose works have been performed across Canada and internationally. Her compositions engage with language, sensory memory, mental and physical breakdown, sound, photography, and the architectures of variation; they explore her deep love for the spiritual and natural worlds.

Recent performances include: Pine Trees & Blue Sky for small ensemble and pipa, Beijing International Composer’s Workshop (Beijing, China); Slanted Birds for string quartet, Quatuor Bozzini (Montréal, Québec); ghosts of swallows for small ensemble, Sonic Lab (Victoria, B.C.), Continuum Ensemble (Toronto), and Esprit Orchestra (Toronto); Soft Travellers for octet, gamUT ensemble (Toronto) and Vertical Studies for flute, piano, violin and video, Pendulum Ensemble (Toronto).

Current collaborations and upcoming premieres include: Emily’s Piece, a 25-minute work for the Victoria Symphony Orchestra based on a quartet of 1930’s paintings by Emily Carr (October, 2011); two pieces for baritone and piano (Norway); an inter-media work exploring Northwest First Nations’ relationships to early Canadian settlers in the 1900’s (Paris, Berlin, London and Toronto); a flute solo; duet for flute and piano; and accordion solo.

From 2005-8, Anna was a composer in residence with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. During this time the Symphony premiered six orchestra works, including Snow Variations, Spill Forms, the flute concerto Trace the Gold Sun for flautist Mark McGregor, and the chamber opera What Time is it Now, with librettist P.K. Page. Telling a poignant yet humorous story about dementia, the 2006 premiere of the opera featured Cathy Fern Lewis (soprano), Kiiri Michelsen (mezzo soprano),and Ken Lavigne (tenor), and was recorded and broadcast by the CBC.

Anna has had works performed by Amy Horvey, Cathy Fern Lewis, Cari Burdett, Heather Roche, Mark McGregor, Continuum Ensemble, Esprit Orchestra, Quatuor Bozzini, GamUT Ensemble, Pendulum Ensemble, Contact Contemporary Ensemble, Tempest Flute Ensemble and Music Corner Ensemble, among others. In other disciplines, she has collaborated with video-artist Anisa Skuce, dancer/choreographer Lisa Höstman, Suddenly Dance Theatre, theatre director Linda Hardy, film-maker Ling Chiu, The National Film Board of Canada, the Three Canadian Tenors, Dylan Robinson and David Cecchetto (Intermission). She’s also taken part in workshops with Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal, Aventa Ensemble, Tapestry New Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Vancouver Symphony, Madawaska String Quartet, and St. Lawrence String Quartet, and been one of ten fellow composers at the Beijing International Composition Workshop.

Anna is currently in the doctoral program at the University of Toronto. She has studied with Christopher Butterfield, James Rolfe, Gary Kulesha, Gordon Mumma and John Celona. Her works are available in the Canadian Music Centre, or by email at annakhostman@gmail.com.