Bio

Catherine Bevan (b. 1996) is an emerging composer based in the Edmonton region, writing primarily in the acoustic medium. Her works often take their form from research in music psychology, and she defended her Masters of Music thesis on “Text and Controlled Improvisation as Vehicles for Musical Development”.

While a composer first and foremost, Catherine is also a performer, with her primary instrument being handbells. She is a member of the auditioned handbell choir Jubiliso! Bells of Concordia own the largest set of handbells and handchimes in the country. In addition to ensemble playing, Catherine is an active handbell soloist. A published handbell composer, her prize-winning piece Polaris and the Northern Lights has been performed across Great Britain. Her works have been workshopped and performed by the likes of the Land’s End Ensemble, the Edmonton Saxophone Quartet, and the Winds of the Scarborough Philharmonic.

Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from York University, graduating summa cum laude, and a Masters of Music in Composition from the University of Alberta, graduating with honours of the highest distinction.

She is the recipient of over a dozen awards and scholarships, including a SSHRC research grant, the Violet Archer Graduate Scholarship in Composition, and the Dr. Peter Zaparinuk Memorial Scholarship in Composition. She has accepted an offer to pursue a second Master’s Degree at the University of Alberta, this time in Digital Humanities with a specialization in Music. Her thesis will explore the capabilities of Virtual Reality as a medium for musical presentation.