Stemming from a fascination with rituals and ‘post-religious spirituality’, the works of saxophonist and composer Calum Builder intertwine minimalist structures with masses of sound. Engaging in a wide range of fields such as modern composition, improvised music, sound art and installations his works implement specific spirallic structures that culminate in pieces for pipe organs, chamber ensembles, choirs and groups with unique instrumentation.

His premiered and commissioned works have debuted at various notable venues, including Marmorkirken, Trinitatis Kirke, Vor Frelsers Kirke, and Sankt Pauli Kyrka, as well as festivals such as the Organ Sound Art Festival. He has undertaken residencies at Inter Arts Center (Lund University), Villa Kultur, Brønshøj Water Tower and Mariendals Kirke.

An award-winning saxophonist lauded for his “unique and exciting voice” (Nettavisen) Builder has performed in contemporary art spaces, concert halls, churches, and festivals throughout Europe and Oceania. A period of extensive practice combining the saxophone and pipe organ led him to build his own ‘(Re)constructed Pipe Organ’ — a dismantled pipe organ, rescued from old churches that is reassembled in a mesmerizing tangle of extensive tubing and a multitude of pipes.

Calum’s most recent works include Immanence (is about knowing someone) for solo organ (Peter Navarro Alonso), Although Changed, I Arise the Same for his (Re)constructed Organ with vocalists Zola Mennenöh and Johanna Sulkunen, Messe (you are where you need to be) for seven voices, seven basses and seven saxophones, In the Tide - music for percussion and recorder ensemble, Transcendence (comes in waves) for three organs (played simultaneously) at Stefanskirke.

Calum is a member of ILK Music, a collective of 25 Scandinavian artists spanning contemporary and improvised music to sound art. He holds an Advanced Postgraduate Soloist degree/Artistic Position from the Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium Copenhagen. His album Messe (You are where you need to be) was released to critical acclaim, garnering six hearts in Politiken and nominated for a Danish Music Award.