Bio
Katherine Bonness is a composer and violist based in Vancouver, Canada. She studied viola performance at the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music. Her compositions are written in a contemporary classical style and explore themes of nature, mythology, and history.
Recent performances of her work include those given by Paolo Bortolussi (Alchemy for solo flute), Liam Hockley (Chimera for solo bass clarinet), Jack Campbell (Day at the Lost Lagoon and Athena for solo violin), and by the resident string quartet at Vancouver Pro Musica’s Sonic Boom Festival 2022 (Night-shining clouds for string quartet, premiered by by Parmela Attariwala, violin; Jae-Won Bang, violin; Sarah Kwok, viola; and Sungyong Lim, cello.)
In addition to her compositional activities, Katherine has extensive performing experience as a freelance violist. She has performed with Rod Stewart, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Video Games Live, the Manitoba Underground Opera, the Rembrandt String Quartet, and the Hesed String Quartet, among others. She has appeared on recordings by Erin Propp and Larry Roy (Courage, My Love; “Am I Alright”), Rayannah (Boxcar Lullabies; title track), and Dave Coles (“Driven” and “Ever So Loved”).
She holds the position of Treasurer on the Board of Directors at Vancouver Pro Musica, the position of Secretary on the Board of Directors at the Association of Canadian Women Composers, and is a member of the Canadian League of Composers and SOCAN.
List of Works
To request a score or recording of any of the pieces below, please contact Katherine at info@katherinebonness.com
Chamber music
Night-shining clouds (2022) — string quartet (ca. 5:00)
• Premiered live at Vancouver Pro Musica's 2022 Sonic Boom Music Festival at Pyatt Hall, 843 Seymour St, Vancouver BC by Parmela Attariwala, Jae-Won Bang, Sarah Kwok, and Sungyong Lim on March 11th, 2022.
Solo music
Petrichor(d) (2023) — electric violin, pedals, and rain (ca. 5')
I. Drizzle
II. THUNDER!
III. Pitter-patter
• Features the use of guitar pedals (Whammy, delay, distortion, and volume) by the soloist to create special effects and backing track of rain sounds.
• Commissioned by Jack Campbell.
• Premiered live by Jack Campbell at Koerner Hall, Vancouver Academy of Music, 1270 Chestnut St, Vancouver BC on August 26th, 2023.
Athena (2022) — solo violin (ca. 1:00)
• Commissioned by Jack Campbell.
• Premiered live by Jack Campbell at Roy Barnett Recital Hall, UBC School of Music, 6361 Memorial Road, Vancouver BC on May 21st, 2022.
zephyr (2021) — solo erhu (ca. 2:00)
• Premiered live by Lan Tung at Murray Adaskin Salon — Canadian Music Centre BC, 837 Davie St, Vancouver BC on November 27th, 2022.
Day at the Lost Lagoon (2021) — solo violin (ca. 8:00)
I. Dawn
II. Day
III. Dusk
• Commissioned by Jack Campbell.
• Premiered online by Jack Campbell on July 15th, 2021.
Chimera (2020) — solo bass clarinet (ca. 4:00)
• Premiered online as part of Vancouver Pro Musica's "A Little Further Series: Miniatures" by Liam Hockley on August 30th, 2020.
Alchemy (2020) — solo flute (ca. 2:30)
• Premiered online as part of Vancouver Pro Musica's Composer Masterclass by Paolo Bortolussi on March 27th, 2021.