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AUSTIN ENGELHARDT
Austin Engelhardt
Composer/Improviser
Artistic Statement
I prioritize the aesthetic nature of sound and continuously endeavor to redefine how I communicate musical expression. As a composer, I integrate multimedia components and improvisational elements into my compositions, aiming to elicit perceptual shifts in the musicians who interpret them. Within my musical compositions the score assumes the role of a living entity, functioning as an additional collaborator with whom one engages and comprehends differently with each performance. Consequently, my compositions draw extensively from the visual realm and the abstract. I wholeheartedly embrace the ideas of experimentation and imperfection, with the goal of imbuing each work with the distinct musical identity of its performer. Composition is a dynamic art form that requires a commitment to representing our evolving humanity through each musical experience.
Most recent performance
Esmond Choi's The Adventurous Project presents the graphic scores of Austin Engelhardt across two concerts in Adelaide, Australia. The first concert, featuring Esmond Choi and Maria Zhdanovich, took place on April 24 and explores Book I. The second concert, featuring Esmond Choi and Derek Pascoe, took place on May 1 and explores Book II.
New album out now
Vol. 5, nine improvised trios recorded live at Turnsōl Books in Kansas City by Austin Engelhardt, Kwan Leung LING, and Caleb Botts on January 7, 2026.
Recent interview
A conversation between pianist Esmond Choi and me in preparation for a series of concerts hosted by Esmond, featuring my graphic scores.
Upcoming Events
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