In 1984 Arthur Bachmann graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a bachelor of music in viola performance. In 1986 he won a job as a violist in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra — a position he holds to this day.
In 1990, Bachmann began a new career as a composer and arranger, and then became an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre in 1997. His music has been heard on CBC Radio, recorded and performed across Canada, the United States and Europe. In September 2012, Bachmann premiered a new chamber opera, What Brought Us Here, commissioned and presented by Calgary Opera, and in September 2015, he premiered another chamber opera, Annie Davidson, commissioned and presented by Cowtown Opera, Calgary. The year 2016 brought forth a large scale flute concerto commissioned and presented by the Calgary Philharmonic with Principle Flautist Sara Hahn as soloist.
Bachmann’s compositions reflect his long-standing association and deep connection to the Alberta landscapes surrounding Calgary. A strong element of his music is melody as well as the incorporation of a sense of tonality. He makes use of all styles and forms of contemporary classical idioms to create his music and to bridge the gap between composer, performer and audience.