Composers Now is actively engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion
in all of its practices, initiatives and programs.

There Are Giants In The Sky

Remembering Stephen Sondheim

Composers Now honors the passing of legend composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim and celebrates his contributions, mentorship and life.

Stephen Sondheim

Read his New York Times Obituary

December IMPACT Sessions

Eric Nathan Dalit Warshaw

Eric Nathan
photo by Move Mountains Photography
 
Thursday, December 9
12-noon

 Dalit Warshaw
photo by Miranda Loud

Thursday, December 16
12-noon 
 
All IMPACT events are FREE
 
Watch HERE
   
Composers Now launched IMPACT in December 2020. Each installment in this series offers a composer the opportunity to reflect on one's creativity, influences, pathways, and responsibility as a living artist in our ever-changing world. Designed for the virtual space, every session shares a composer's essential thoughts directly with you, the audience, in the safety and comfort of your own place.
 
These commentaries, interwoven with performance videos and other materials, articulate a creator's IMPACT.

Composer Curator: Texu Kim

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7 pm
YouTube stream
Chat live with Texu and his guest creatives

BUY TICKETS NOW

Composer Curator

Texu Kim | (Anne) Leilehua Lanzilotti | Miguel del Aguila | David Hurd

Get the inside story through performance and conversation with host composer/performer Texu Kim on sonic exploration, alongside the imagination and ingenuity of three equally groundbreaking creators, in a unique program he has crafted for Composers Now.

Tune in for the YouTube Premiere on Tuesday, December 14 at 7pm (NYC) for his Composer Curator event and chat live with Texu, Miguel del Aguila, David Hurd and (Anne) Leilehua Lanzilotti.

As a Korean-American, Texu Kim writes music inspired by everyday experiences; music about modern (South) Korea, reflecting its multicultural nature. He explores the localization of imported traditions, incorporating cross-cultural elements in his work, often expanding upon Korean folk music elements and systems, creating music that is humorous yet sophisticated. Kim served as the Composer-in-Residence at Korean Symphony Orchestra in 2014-18. His works have also been performed by the New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, the New World Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Diego Symphony, National Orchestra of Korea, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Modern, Alarm Will Sound, C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective, NOTUS, Cardinal Singers, among others. Upcoming performances include those by Detroit Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Kim's music has earned awards and honors from Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Copland House, SCI/ASCAP, etc., and his music has been presented at Brucknerfest, SONiC Festival, SCI National Conferences, to name a few. His arrangements have featured on numerous albums, with labels including DECCA and DG. Having received a D.M. from Indiana University and taught at Syracuse University, Kim teaches at San Diego State University as an assistant professor of music composition/theory.

To read more about the Composer Curator initiative and past events in the series:
https://www.composersnow.org/cn/programs/curator/ 

2022 First Commission

Ebun Oguntola


Ebon Oguntola
The recipient of the 2022 Composers Now First Commission Award is Ebun Oguntola. Ebun is a 16-year-old contemporary classical composer, violinist, pianist and saxophonist living in upstate New York. Her music was brought to the attention of Composers Now by the founders of Luna Composition Lab, Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid. With mentorship from composer/saxophonist Erin Rogers, Ebun will create a chamber work that will receive its world premiere as part of the Opening Event of the 2022 Composers Now Festival.
 
The event will take place in Marc Scorca Hall of the National Opera Center on Thursday, January 27, 2022, 8pm. The event will also be livestreamed. Tickets will be on sale early in 2022.
 
This commissioning initiative is made possible through the generosity of Composers Now board member and composer Michael Minard.

Composers Now Announces the Return of its Creative Residency Initiative

This residency is jointly sponsored by Composers Now and the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, located in Tarrytown, New York and fosters a collaboration between composer Seong Ae Kim and visual artist Andre Veloux.

Seong Ae Park Andre Veloux
Seong Ae Kim Andre Veloux
 
The artists will be in-residence for a week in early December 2021. Together, they will present an Artist Salon for an invited audience at the Center, showcasing the process of creative collaboration, the idea they are developing, and something of their own. Their work will be presented in New York in late January 2022 as part of the Opening Event of the Composers Now Festival.

Composers Now began its Creative Residencies initiative in 2014. Residencies allow creators the opportunity to work uninterrupted, explore new ideas and further develop their imaginative projects. Each residency may be individual or in collaboration with other artists. To date, Composers Now has co-sponsored residencies with the Pocantico Center and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation.


Composers Now                             Rockefeller Brothers Fund