b.1961, Canada
James Rolfe writes music for chamber ensembles, orchestra, choir, voice, and the operatic stage. He studied composition with John Beckwith at the University of Toronto and Jo Kondo in Japan.
His works have been commissioned and performed by ensembles in Canada (including Arraymusic, Continuum, Esprit Orchestra and Vancouver New Music), the USA (Bang on a Can All-Stars), Europe (Asko Ensemble, Ensemble Contrechamps de Genève, Ensemble Avant Garde, Ives Ensemble, Ixion Ensemble, Nash Ensemble, Nieuw Ensemble), and New Zealand (175 East). He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2000. He currently resides in Toronto, Canada.
Open Road, a new James Rolfe work commissioned by Soundstreams, premiered at The Music of Arvo Pärt concert on October 1, 2013. Video archival recording of this event available at above link.