Biography

Oscar Bruten is a rising-star Australian saxophonist and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Jazz commissioned composer. 

At a young age Oscar has already received a number of awards and scholarships for both his work as a performer and composer. In 2024, at the age of 21, he placed third in the 2024 National Wangaratta Jazz Awards for Best Saxophonist under the age of 35. Oscar was awarded the 2023 James Morrison Jazz Scholarship, a prestigious award dedicated to recognising the best young jazz improvisers nationally under the age of 19. In 2022, Oscar was awarded the ABC Composers Commissioning Fund to compose and record a suite of music for a 10-piece jazz ensemble. In 2021, Oscar was awarded both the annual Jazz and Improvisation Prize and Geoff Whitelaw Emerging Composer Grant at Monash University. In 2020, Oscar graduated from highschool with the 2020 Victoria Certificate of Education Premier's Award for Music Investigation - awarded to the highest performing graduating student in the state. In 2019, at the age of 16, he was awarded the Pat Corrigan Musicians & Arts Fund Award for best young improviser in Australia. 

As a member of the Australian National Jazz Youth Orchestra (ANJYO) Oscar Bruten has performed around Australia on Tenor 1, Alto 2 and Woodwinds. ANJYO, consisting of Australia's best jazz musicians under 25, was directed by critically-acclaimed composer Vanessa Perica in 2022 and 4x Grammy-nominated Remy Le Boeuf in 2024. Following his participation, Oscar was asked to be the guest artist for the 2025 Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra program by artistic director Dr Mace Francis.

Oscar Bruten has been fortunate enough to perform with legendary artists including Melissa Aldana, Mat Jodrell, Barney McCall, Angela Davis, Dick Oatts, Rich DeRosa and Ross Irwin . He performs regularly around Australia as composer and arranger for his own quartet and septet, with repertoire consisting of original music and arrangements of the jazz tradition. His regular show - The Oscar Bruten Septet plays Monk and Mingus - consistently sells out at Melbourne's iconic venue 'The Paris Cat'. Oscar is also a member of various Melbourne Big Bands, including The Paris Cat Big Band and the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra.

As well as being an accomplished performer, Oscar is a sought after composer, arranger, orchestrator, copyist and transcriber for a number of musical settings. 

With his debut release - ABC jazz Commission Strzelecki Suite (2024) - Oscar Bruten has shown himself to be an exciting new voice as both a saxophonist and composer. ​