Abbie Betinis

Composer Abbie Betinis creates music called “inventive” (New York Times) and “shattering, incandescent” (Boston Globe).  Known for her expressive text-setting, relevance, and craft, her performances span from Carnegie Hall to Disney Hall, state prisons to capitol buildings, international cathedrals to intimate summer campfires.

A two-time McKnight Artist Fellow and recognized by Musical America for her “ability to use her talents to effect social change,” Abbie is co-editor of the Justice Choir Songbook – a collaborative resource for community transformation through singing – now used in schools, streets, prisons, faith communities, and protest movements nationwide. 

With early titles published by Augsburg Fortress, Fred Bock, Santa Barbara Music, and the Dale Warland Series at G. Schirmer, Abbie now self-publishes and distributes worldwide through Graphite Marketplace. A passionate advocate for small business and artist rights, Abbie has presented on copyright and publishing at national conferences, organized national exhibits for independent publishers, and has been a community liaison to the board of the American Composers Forum. 

Abbie's catalog includes commissions for Cantus, Chorus Pro Musica, Conspirare with Miró String Quartet, Dale Warland Singers, Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra, James Sewell Ballet, St Olaf Choir, and ACDA's Women's Choir Consortium, among many others. A frequent guest clinician, she enjoys bringing the “why” off the page and into the energy of a rehearsal, holding many ensemble residencies. 

An enthusiastic educator, Abbie has been adjunct professor of music composition at Concordia University-St Paul, at St Olaf College, and is currently on the music composition faculty at the European American Musical Alliance's Summer Institute in Paris, France.