Composer News
Michael Abels
The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Chelsea Tipton II, with guest artists the Harlem Quartet will perform Michael Abels Delights and Dances for string quartet and string orchestra on a 13-city U.S. tour in September and October 2009. A highlight of the tour will be the Sphinx Laureates concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Wednesday, October 7. Read more...
Kenneth Frazelle
October, 2009 — Composer Ken Frazelle says with the confluence and intermingling of genres of music he can't think of a better time in history to be a composer. In 2008 the Music@Menlo Festival commissioned him to write a new piano trio. Listen to the entire piano trio played by pianists Jeffrey Kahane, violinist Joseph Swenson and cellist David Finckel. Read more...
Nancy Galbraith
The Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition (MQVC), a contest for young women bassoonists from the American continents, has listed Nancy Galbraith's Sonata for Bassoon and Piano as a required entrant work for its 2007 biennial competition. Over 100 students will submit audition recordings for a chance to be among five finalists competing for substantial prizes. This year, the final round for the competition will be presented in the form of a public concert in June, 2007 in Ithaca, NY, the site of the 36th Annual International Double Reed Society (IDRS) Conference, where the 1st prize winner will perform in recital.
Nancy Galbraith's music is already well known among members of the IDRS. In June 2003, the world premiere of her double reed quartet (2 oboes, 2 bassoons) "Of Nature" was presented by members of the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin (who commissioned the work for this event) at the 32 Annual IDRS Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The sonata was originally commissioned by bassoonist Eric Goldman at Carnegie Mellon University, who premiered the work in February 2004 with pianist Donna Amato.
To place an order for Nancy Galbraith's Sonata for Bassoon and Piano click here. For more information about the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Bassoon Competition visit their website at www.mqvc.org.
Susan Kander
On January 19-21, 2007, the Kennedy String Quartet (resident quartet for the National Symphony Orchestra) will present the World Premiere of a new work by Susan Kander for the NSO 'STRINGS & STORIES' program at the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC.
Edward Knight
Edward Knight's Sonata through Salt-Rimmed Glasses was premiered at the International Trumpet Guild Conference June 10, 2006 at Rowan University. The new work was performed by Oklahoma City Philharmonic trumpeter Michael Anderson and tells a story of romantic hopes raised and dashed in a cantina as the evening progresses. Anderson, and pianist Rebecca Wilt moved seamlessly between the more austere and serious trumpet sonata structure to something verging dangerously close to musical comedy as the protagonists worked out their tensions across a seemingly smoldering piano.
James Lee III
July, 2010 — Subito composer James Lee, III has been selected to be included in the initial group of 60 composers to be considered for the innovative Orpheus Project 440.
In honor of its upcoming 40th anniversary, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra will commission new works from four emerging composers, to be premiered during the 2011-2012 Season. To assist in this effort, Orpheus assembled a panel of musicians and industry experts to nominate young composers from around the country. Project 440 is designed to encourage the talent of diverse musical styles and establish a unique, inclusive method of commissioning that will utilize input and discussion from the general public, as well as musicians, patrons, established composers, and experts in the field.
Read More...Dan Locklair
May, 2010 — Loft Recordings has issued The Music of Dan Locklair (LRCD-1110), a collection of some of the composer's finest organ music, performed by the internationally renowned Marilyn Keiser. Read More...
Willian McGlaughlin
On March 18, 2006 Aunt Eva Suite (Surveying Lake Wobegon) was performed by the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra – Philip Brunelle, Conductor. Garrison Keillor, Narrator
Listen to a recent Tucson Citizen interview with the composer HERE.
Steven Mercurio
Many Voices, a new Sony Classical recording featuring a collection of works for voice and orchestra by Steven Mercurio, is now available online and at record stores everywhere. The recording includes performances by world-renowned singers Andrea Bocelli, Sumi Jo, Gino Quilico, Marcello Giordani, and Rolando Villazon.
E.J. Johnson of Barnes & Noble writes, "American-born Steven Mercurio puts his own compositions in the spotlight on Many Voices, his debut disc as a composer. The seven tracks form an unfailingly lyrical song collection of near-operatic reach that betrays a warm-hearted debt to the Italian tradition... The Serenade for Tenor and Orchestra with Villazon at times seems like something straight out of Broadway's golden era, revealing that Mercurio is well along the path to becoming a modern-day Leonard Bernstein. "
To review soundclips from this new release and to purchase a copy of the new CD click HERE.
Paul Moravec
July, 2010 —Paul Moravec has a full schedule of residencies and performances this summer taking him to festivals in the United States and Europe. Read more...
Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)
May 2010 — Haitian-American violinist/composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) continues to establish his reputation as one of the most original and groundbreaking artists on the contemporary classical music scene. An innovative violinist, composer, performer, re-mixer, and bandleader, DBR has won worldwide acclaim for his eclecticism and fearless exploration, whether through extended violin techniques, the infusion of electronics, or in his perspectives on the definition of chamber music.
On Woodbox Beats & Balladry (Thirsty Ear Recordings), his profusion of classical composing and performing talents are uniquely exposed. Echoing his own career, Woodbox Beats & Balladry contains elements of classical minimalism, dance club beats, traditional ballads, and thick distorted noise. Fitting coming from an artist who has performed with everyone from the Seattle and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras, to the dancers Bill T. Jones and Savion Glover, to the composers Philip Glass and Derek Bermel, to DJs Radar, Scientific, and Spooky, to the jazz singer Cassandra Wilson, the pop-singer Lady Gaga, and the infamous 2 Live Crew. Read more...
Roberto Sierra
May 2009 — Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina “Pro Pace” for soprano and baritone soloists, SATB chorus and orchestra has just been released on NAXOS (8.559624) in a performance by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with soloists Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano and Nathaniel Webster, baritone, conducted by Andreas Delfs. Read more...
Judith Lang Zaimont
May 2010 —Naxos Classical recently released a recording of orchestral works by Judith Lang Zaimont, including Chroma: Northern Lights; Ghosts and Elegies from Symphony No. 2, and Stillness: Poem for Orchestra, performed by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kirk Trevor. Read more...
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