JENNIFER bellor, Composer

Described by Textura as “that rare composer whose music manages to be instantly listenable and emotionally resonant without any compromise to its sophistication,” Jennifer Bellor is a versatile composer whose music draws on a variety of influences. Her compositional style, marked by a fusion of influences drawn from imagery, literature, and personal experiences, showcases a melodic richness underscored by jazz and pop-infused harmonies.

Bellor’s music has been presented widely throughout the U.S. and abroad and has four acclaimed albums to her name. Her debut album Stay (2016), a melting pot of different music styles largely based on poetry, was featured on NewMusicBox’s 2016 Staff Picks, which praised the record for its ability to “maintain a highly individual indentity without needing to take refuge in pre-post-genre musical silos.” The magazine lauded the first track, “Chase the Stars,” not only for its “dazzling eclecticism” combining opera, hip hop, and jazz, but also for Bellor’s singing. The composition was awarded The American Prize (2016) in the orchestral category. Reflections at Dusk (Innova Recordings, 2019), showcases instrumental music inspired by the Nevada sunsets; Jazz Weekly described it as having “evocative musical images.” Bellor’s collaboration with the percussion quartet Clocks in Motion culminated in the release of her album Oneira (Aerocade Music, 2022). Her music was hailed by Texture as “rousing and infectious,” characterized by a distinct expressive signature transcending traditional genre boundaries. The title track, Oneira, served as the soundtrack to an animation created by Christine Banna and was featured on I Care If You Listen, and it received screening at multiple film festivals.

Her newest album, Long These Days, was released on August 16, 2024, by EMITHA’s prestigious label, Lexicon Classics. She is featured as the composer, pianist, and producer. Collaborating with soprano Olivia Yokers, bassist Norman Espinoza, and electric guitarist Tasos Peltekis, the concept album comprises art songs and instrumental interludes. Within a month after its release, tracks Echo and Postlude: Resurgence were featured on Marvin Rosen’s Classical Discoveries radio program and her music video for the title track was featured on Textura. Textural praised the work as being a “sophisticated composition of integrity and craft,” and “a standalone work of multi-hued design, a tapestry in its truest sense.”

In addition to the release of her album, Bellor was one of the resident composers who served on the faculty at the International Alba Music Composition program in May 2024, where she taught lessons, gave a presentation on her recording project, and heard her composition A Grey Dream performed by the Soli Chamber Ensemble. Bellor is joining the faculty at the Mostly Modern Festival in summer 2025.

A native of northern NY, Bellor holds degrees from Eastman School of Music (PhD), Syracuse University (MM), and Cornell University (BA). She is Assistant Professor of Music Composition at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she is Artistic Director of the contemporary music series, Nextet. In addition to music, she maintains an active lifestyle of running and fitness and enjoys embarking on new adventures and pushing her comfort zone. Some adventures include skydiving for the first time (2011), scuba diving in Fiji (2022), and running races. For more information, visit www.jenniferbellor.com.