Biography and CV Luc Houtkamp
Born 1953, Den Haag, The Netherlands; composer, alto and tenor saxophones, computers, electronics.
Luc Houtkamp is a composer who bridges the gap between different worlds of music. Having a background in jazz & improvised music as a saxophone player, his musical goal is to establish a continuum between improvisation and composition in which the difference between the two dissolves.
With the aid of computers and live electronics as well as various forms of music notation his compositions are highly personal in both sound and concept. Stylistic freedom is not a post-modern cliché, but based on his belief that musical style is secondary in importance and they’re to serve the expressive quality of the music itself. His main interest in his pieces is the way in which the musicians play together, and how this can be directed by means of composition and the use of computers.
After a long-standing career as an improvising musician, Houtkamp established his own POW Ensemble in 2002. Being a flexible unit of musicians with musical backgrounds in jazz, rock, electronic and contemporary music, it soon became the ideal body for the performance of his own composition.
In 2014, Houtkamp moved to the island of Malta, where he soon became integrated in the local new music scene. He now mainly concentrates on composition.
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Education
Autodidact
Several studies with private teachers in composition and instrumental music (saxophone and clarinet).
1970 – 1974 Vrije Academie, Den Haag, electronic music and visual art
1991 – 1992 Institute of Sonology, Royal Conservatory, Den Haag
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Brief overview musical career as a performer
2020 – The L. Switters Saxophone Brotherhood & Society
2017 – Duo with Giorgi Occhipinti
2016 – Beresford-Blume-Houtkamp
2016 – Duo with Hannes Buder
2013 – 2016 Nobatov-Blume-Houtkamp
2001 – 2005 2nd Outlet, with Cor Fuhler, Martin Blume
2002 – POW Ensemble
1997 – 2016 FOURinONE, with Johannes Bauer, Dieter Manderscheid, Martin Blume
1993 – 2002 Own groups, with Gert-Jan Prins, Johannes Bauer and Fred van Hove
1988 – 1992 King Übü Orchestrü, Germany
1984 – 1989 Trio and Quartet with Ernst Reijseger, Han Bennink and Konrad Bauer
1982 – Solo saxophone concerts, with and without electronics
1979 – 1984 Homage Saxophone Quartet, Belgium
1979 – 1983 Klimaat, with Maartje ten Hoorn and Jan den Boer
1979 – 1992 Several ensemble by, and in collaboration with Gilius van Bergeijk
1974 – 1979 Own groups, with Kees Hazevoet, Sven Johansson, Joop van Erven
1970 – 1973 STEAM Group
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Lectureships, composer in residences, academic activities
2016 Guest lecture at the University of Western Australia
2015 Guest lectures at the Shih Chien University, Taipei, and the Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu in Taiwan
2009 – 2010 External examiner in DMUS, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
2007 – 2008 Guest lecturer at the HKU KMT, Hilversum
2005 – 2008 Ensemble in residence with the POW Ensemble at the Royal Conservatory, Den Haag
2002 Artist in Residence at Eulec, Lüneburg, Musikhochschüle, Hamburg, Germany
2000 Composer in residence at Det Fynske Mussikkonservatorium (Odense, Denmark)
2000 Guest lecturer contemporary music at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
1997 Guest lecturer electronic music at University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Performed in:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tatarstan, The Netherlands, UK, USA
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Grants awarded
2019 Travel grant for South Africa with EMM, by the Arts Council Malta
2018 Valletta 2018, grant for the POW Ensemble
2016 Travel grant for Australian tour, by the Arts Council Malta
2015 Composition bursary by the FPK
2011 – Several grants from the FPK for the POW Ensemble
2009 – 2010 2-year grant from the FPK for the POW Ensemble
2005 – 2008 4-year grant from the Dutch ministry of Culture (OCW) for the POW Ensemble
1989 Composition grant from the Amsterdam Art Fund
1986 – 2014 Continuous stipend from the FCM and NPK for composition
1985 Composition grant from the Amsterdam Art Fund
1984 – Numerous incidental grants for traveling and performing as a composer/performer
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Awards
2005 VPRO/Boy Edgar award, for jazz and improvised music in the Netherlands
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Functions
2020 – 2022 Artistic director at Electronic Music Malta
2019 Jury member of the International Music Competition Malta
2017 – Secretary Electronic Music Malta (EMM)
2009 Jury member Gaudeamus interpreters competition
2006 – 2010 Chairman of the Dutch organization for Bisexuals (LNBi)
2001 – 2005 Board member of the Dutch organization for Electronic music (PEM)
2000 – 2016 Board member Conlon Foundation
2000 – 2008 Member of the artistic board of Stichting Gaudeamus, The Netherlands
1998 – 2001 Board member Dutch Union for composers (GeNeCo)
1998 – 2001 Board member BUMA Social fund
1984 – 1989 Treasurer Dutch Union for Improvising Musicians (BIM)