Biography

Jesse Gelaznik is a composer, visual artist, and founder of the New York based performance art collective Dirty Churches. His most recent opera “Mischief (Rathattan)” commissioned by Experiments in Opera for their opera “5 Ways to Die” at HERE Arts Center was quoted as having the “best balance” by the New York Classical Review (2024). His music has also been commissioned by the Sembrich Opera Museum, the Hyde Museum and HUB New Music (2023). His video opera “RUMPLES” premiered at the Mattress Factory Museum (2021) in conjunction with his sound art for Andréa Stanislav’s immersive installation “Surmantants-Mars Rising.” He also conducted the premiere of his collaborative Dirty Churches opera “ERA OF GOOD FEELINGS” at La MaMa Galleria (2019). Jesse’s music for the feature film H. premiered at MoMA and Sundance (2014) and his collaborative “PWR&$$$ - EP”  was commissioned by the Sharjah Art Foundation Biennial X and later was exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum for their “Friday Late” series (2012). As a visual artist Jesse’s illustrations have been quoted as “stunning” and “eye catching” by the New York Times (2020) for his work on Theater in Quarantine’s “Footnote for the End of Time.

Albums

Falling (EP) CD and digital release on Cmntx Records also available at Printed Matter.

Andréa Stanislav’s Surmantants - Mars Rising (Album) Vinyl available at Printed Matter.

Jesse Gelaznik - Dvorak (1 minute sound-art) download available at Mute Sound.

More digital downloads and online streaming available on bandcamp and SoundCloud.

Press

New York Classical Review - Breathless comedy reigns in a quartet of new works from Experiments in Opera (composer)

New York Times - Review: Bringing Borges to Life in ‘Footnote for the End of Time’ (illustrator)

Times Union - Classical Notes: The marriage of art, music at the Hyde (composer)

La MaMa Blogs, 6 Questions - Jesse Gelaznik (composer)

Variety - H. Film Review (composer)

Hollywood Reporter - H.’ Sundance Review (composer)

Good Art News - Andréa Stanislav (composer)

STEREOGUM - I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness – “You Are Dead To Me” Video” (film director)

Huffington Post - Short Films, Live Score (composer)

Vice - Be a Guest in the Cavern (composer)

Vice - Life Inside the Dome (blog entry)

Vice - Blue Moon Burlesque (blog entry)

Vice - Advice to a Young Man from an Old Man Twice Married (illustrator)