Kristopher Bendrick

Kristopher Bendrick’s compositions explore a balance between the seriousness of interpersonal vulnerability and the levity of absurdism. His use of absurdism creates darkly whimsical and nonsensical narratives that bring light-heartedness to an otherwise dismal aesthetic. He has attended the University of Pennsylvania as a Benjamin Franklin fellow, as well as Western Michigan University and Columbia College Chicago. He has studied under Tyshawn Sorey, Natacha Diels, Christopher Biggs, and Lisa Coons. He is the SEAMUS 2022 1st Prize recipient, a winner of the MTNA National Composition Competition, the recipient of the Turner Award, a Hokin Award nominee, and the recipient of the 2019 & 2020 College of Fine Arts Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award. He has worked with numerous performers and ensembles including the PRISM Quartet, Yarn/Wire, Tak Ensemble, Varo Quartet, and members of Ensemble Dal Niente.