Bethany Younge

Bethany Younge is a composer and performer currently serving as Technical Director and Core Lecturer in the Music Department at Dartmouth College. Her work interrogates the physicality of music-making, merging acoustic and electronic sound with the visceral presence of the performer. She has been commissioned and performed by festivals worldwide, including National Sawdust, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Darmstadt International Summer Course, and others.

Her educational background includes:

• DMA from Columbia University (2023)
• MM from Koninklijke Conservatorium Den Haag (2013)
• BM from Oberlin Conservatory of Music (2011)

Bethany Younge's research centers on the corporeal elements of musical performance. For her, the act of music-making cannot be divorced from the physical presence of the human instigator. Her compositions incorporate instrumental deconstruction, exaggerated movement, motion tracking, sounding costumes, and other aesthetic devices to sonically heighten corporeal expressivity. She explores themes ranging from ecological collapse to posthumanist-cyborg futures, creating immersive sound worlds where propulsive rhythms and uneven grooves collide with extended techniques. Her work teeters between control and abandon, emphasizing the tactile and kinetic aspects of musical expression.

Analysis of her recent compositions reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of technology and the human body in performance. She frequently employs motion-activated technologies, automated costume-instruments, and spatialized sound to create immersive experiences. Her works often feature collaborations with leading contemporary ensembles like JACK Quartet, TAK Ensemble, and International Contemporary Ensemble. A notable trend is her exploration of unconventional sound sources, from 3D-printed sirens to Memory Moog synthesizers, which she integrates with traditional instrumental techniques to push the boundaries of contemporary music.

Among her notable scientific awards:

• American Academy of Arts and Letters Charles Ives Award
• Fromm Commission
• Kanter/Mivos Prize
• Barcelona Mixtur Commission
• Stipend Prize from Darmstadt
• Dublin Sound Lab Commission
• Gaudeamus Award nomination

Younge has received significant grant support for her work, including funding from the Fromm Music Foundation for 'BRIGHT VOID.' She has been commissioned by prestigious festivals and ensembles across the U.S. and Europe, demonstrating the high regard for her innovative approach to composition and performance. Her collaborations span a diverse range of contemporary music groups, indicating her position at the forefront of new music creation. While specific advising information isn't provided in the source material, her role as Core Lecturer at Dartmouth suggests engagement with student composers and performers.

Though not explicitly detailed in the provided text, Younge's work with motion tracking, sounding costumes, and automated instruments suggests involvement with interdisciplinary projects focused on music technology and performance. Her 'Reactivated Anatomies' project, featuring automated costume-instruments, points to collaboration with technologists and engineers to realize her artistic vision. These projects represent cutting-edge intersections of music, technology, and embodied performance practice.