“Music is, for me, like a beautiful mosaic which God has put together.
He takes all the pieces in his hand, throws them into the world,
and we have to recreate the picture from the pieces.”
― Jean Sibelius
BIo
A versatile musician, James Boznos (1969, Chicago) has been the Principal Timpanist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra since 2000. James has been soloist with the HK Phil on three occasions, having performed both of the William Kraft Timpani Concertos as well as his own composition Concerto for Timpani, Roto-Toms and Orchestra.
He has been a frequent guest principal with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa and the Seoul Philharmonic. He teaches at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Prior to joining the HKPhil, Boznos worked regularly with the Chicago Symphony and the leading new music groups of Boston and Chicago. In those years, some highlights include; performing Iannis Xenakis' Psappha for solo percussion in the ancient amphitheatre in Delphi, Greece, and playing Derive I and II at the Berlin Staatsoper for Pierre Boulez' 75th birthday, with Boulez himself conducting.
With his ensemble KLANG, he conducted over sixty contemporary works including the USA and Asia premiere of Donnerstags Gruss by Stockhausen. He has also conducted the National Taiwan Symphony, HkPhil and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra
As a composer, James Boznos uses the pen name OZNO. He has written music for orchestra, chamber, solo, vocal, electronic genres as well as for the theatre. Recent premieres have included:
Cantata Nr.1 “Anesti”, for 6 instruments, 6 voices and synthetic orchestra, Cantata Nr. 2 “Nevu’ah”, for 6 part chorus, 19 instrumentalists and tape, Cantata Nr.3 “Gabriel”, for soloists, choir, orchestra and mp3 with the Hong Kong Bach Choir.
The China Philharmonic and Guangzhou Symphony premiered Concerto Nr.2 “Pavilions” for extended timpani, orchestra and mp3. The Hong Kong Philharmonic performed Oikogeneia for orchestra in 2016, and in 2020, will premiere his Concerto for Piccolo also with Jaap van Zweden.
Composer - Interpreter - Educator - Advocate
MUSIC
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
Works List of OZNO 1969, Chicago
The Obligatory Recitative (1989-90) op. 1, for woodwind quintet (“20)
Escher Themes (1991) op. 2, for orchestra, (3.2.3.2)(4.3.3.1)(T4)(pno/cel)(strings) (“12)
Piano Etudes (1992) op. 3, for solo piano (“15)
The Shaman (1994) op. 4, for solo percussionist and tape (“8)
Shadow Puppets (2002) op.5, for oboe, vibraphone, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello and bass (“10)
Angkor (2003) op.6, for 3 trumpets and 3 trombones (“20)
Concerto for Timpani, Roto-toms and Orchestra (2003) op.7, (3.2.3.2)(4.3.3.1)(4)(pno/cel)(strings) (“25)
Taniquetil (2004) op. 8, for orchestra (3.3.3.3)(4.3.3.1)(T4)(pno)(hrp)(strings)(tape) (“18)
The Elisabeth Music (2005) op. 9, for violin and orchestra (2.2.2.2)(2.2.2.0)(T2)(cel)(hrp)(strings) (“17)
The Gathering (2004) op. 10, for synthetic ensemble (lute, banjo, cimbalon, harp, hand-bells, koto and shakuhachi) (“6)
Zoon (2005) op.11a, for solo flute and drone, op.11b(2009) for solo percussion and drone (“12)
Google (2005/14) op. 12, for orchestra (2.2.2.2)(4.2.2.1)(T3)(pno)(strings) (“3)
YuYuan Preludes (2005/8) op. 13, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, percussion, violin and piano (“13)
Oikogenia (2006/2016) op. 14, for orchestra (“45)
Symphony No.1 “The Staircase of the Tian-Wang” (2006/7)op.15, for 16 antiphonal musicians, synthetic orchestra and mp3(“50)
Locutions of Dune (2010) op. 16, for saxophone quartet (“14)
Cantata Nr.1 “Anesti” (2012) op. 17,for 6 part mixed chorus, 6 instrumentalists, synthetic orchestra/tape (“25)
a time, and times, and half a time (2013) op. 18, for solo snare drummer and synthetic instruments (“10)
Cantata Nr.2 “Nevu’ah” (2015) op. 19, for solo soprano, 6 part mixed chorus,19 instrumentalists and mp3 (“40)
Concerto Nr.2 “Pavilions” (2019) op. 20, for extended timpani, orchestra and mp3 (“40)(4.3.3.3)(4.3.3.1) tmp, 5 prc.,hrp, piano (strings)
Cantata Nr.3 “Gabriel” (2019) op. 21, for soloists, 4 part mixed choir, orchestra and mp3 (“30)
Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra(2020) op. 22 (“20)
Social Distancing (2020) op. 23, for 10 antiphonal instrumentalists and mp3 (“11)
