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Name
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Bushra El-Turk
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Bio
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Born in London, Bushra El-Turk has written over 50 works for the concert hall, the stage, film, TV and live art performance. Her work is often defined by the integration of musics and musicians from different cultural traditions, and the compulsion to highlight and challenge socio-cultural issues. Her works blur written and improvisational elements, forebearing the influence of her Lebanese roots all the while leaning towards the theatrical, creating works that are '...ironic...', '...arresting...' and of 'limitless imagination'.
Selected by the BBC as one of the most inspiring 100 Women of today, Bushra he has written works for the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Orchestre National de Lorraine, Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, the Latvian Radio Choir and Atlas Ensemble, amongst others, and in 2018 has had her BBC Proms debut. Performances have been at venues including Lincoln Center, Deutsche Oper Haus, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Southbank Centre and Barbican.
2019 saw the world premiere of Tmesis for Symphony Orchestra, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Dubai Opera House at the BBC Proms Opening night, a commission by the London Symphony Orchestra to write ‘Tuqus’ for multi-ability orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, a London Sinfonietta commission and a piece for Studio Dan, commissioned by the MusikProtokol festival in Gratz.
Bushra is currently writing an opera based on Nawal El-Saadawi's novel Woman at Point Zero which will be premiered in April 2021 (details to be announced), has just finished writing a piece for the Hezarfen Ensemble to be premiered at the Bristol New Music Festival, and various other exciting works to be announced soon.
Bushra is artistic director and leader of Ensemble Zar, which is a fresh and fearless cross-genre ensemble, and is published by Composers Edition.
Bushra El-Turk