American Composers Orchestra

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, Gustavo Dudamel will lead the World Premiere of a new orchestration of Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated. With concerts planned for March 12-17, 2026, variations will be orchestrated by many composers including several ACO EarShot alumni: Kati Agócs, Marcos Balter, Anthony Cheung, Brittany J. Green, Tania León, Andrew Norman, Maria Schneider, Nina Shekhar, Roberto Sierra, Conrad Tao, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Joel Thompson, Wang Lu, and Nina C. Young. Tickets & info below: https://lnkd.in/gDkRK59A

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Carnegie Hall for Hello, America: Transatlantic. Maestro Tito Mu?oz led the American Composers Orchestra through a captivating journey featuring the works of Tania León, Tomàs Peire Serrate, Clarice Assad, and Edmar Casta?eda. The works were woven together by interludes on Going Home (inspired by Alice Coltrane’s Lord of Lords) co-created by Curtis Stewart and Harlem Samba. Photo Credit: Alfred Kan

Professional representation has helped countless artists reach the next levels of their careers, but the process of identifying and securing management can be a heavy lift for those who are unfamiliar with how to do so. Join ACO President Melissa Ngan and Visconti Arts President Dan Visconti for this FREE webinar on Wednesday, March 12th at 4:00pm ET. They will highlight both the ways in which representation can help orchestral composers continue their professional trajectories, and how composers can gain the attention of management agencies. Register at this link: https://lnkd.in/g7ZRx3WS

From our friends at Alarm Will Sound: The Matt Marks Impact Fund offers up to $7,500 in seed funding to develop innovative and ambitious projects with Alarm Will Sound that have the potential to create significant cultural and social impact. This fund is designed to support groundbreaking ideas and help projects gain the traction they need to secure additional funding and stakeholders for full realization. What Makes This Fund Unique? *Workshops and Performances: We provide a concrete platform to showcase and develop your artistic vision, breaking the barriers of traditional high-stakes premieres. *Expanding Diversity: We prioritize projects that enhance the stylistic and demographic diversity of our work because art thrives when it reflects the full breadth of society. *Support for Risk and Innovation: Whether you’re an emerging artist or exploring uncharted musical territory, we’re here to take the leap with you. Join Alarm Will Sound in shaping the future of music by challenging the norms and creating work that transforms how we experience the world. Application Deadline: March 1, 2025 Learn more and apply at the link below: https://lnkd.in/gh_Ze5JV

American Composers Orchestra (ACO) announces details of its spring 2025 EarShot Readings at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, IN from March 26–28, 2025 and at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI from May 12–13, 2025. In addition, ACO showcases CoLABoratory Workshops on March 5 & 7, 2025 at The DiMenna Center in New York and a special CoLABoratory Event on March 22, 2025 at Esperanza Arts Center in Philadelphia, PA. https://lnkd.in/dsa8S6Qi

From our Friends: Soloists from the Grammy?-Winning Experiential Orchestra (EXO)?led by music director James Blachly?return to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in an evening of music reflecting on memory, inviting the audience to lie down immersed in the sound of strings, walk in the space as the music reflects off the stones, or sit in seats surrounding the musicians. The evening includes Strauss’?Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings, a kaleidoscopic exploration of harmony and color, deeply infused with memory and loss; and Vaughan Williams'?Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, one of the most celebrated works for strings, imbuing Tallis’s 16th century hymn tune with expansive colors and staging the work across three locations in the Cathedral, reflecting the past, present, and future. https://lnkd.in/gCUjZMip

Receiving a performance by an orchestra isn’t the end of the road for a composer, but the beginning of an ongoing relationship. This webinar, featuring Loki Karuna, Leanna Primiani, and John Devlin of Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, will offer rehearsal techniques to composers. Featured speakers will discuss how to engage conductors, orchestras, and musicians throughout the rehearsal process. Registration is free at the link below: https://lnkd.in/g5FcE4TG

??Breaking news!?? BMI Foundation is announcing two new four-year partnerships with American Composers Orchestra and International Contemporary Ensemble to present works receiving honors at the BMI Composer Awards. Each year, one chamber work and one orchestral work will be performed in an ICE concert and an ACO EarShot Reading respectively, as permitted by each ensemble’s schedule. Applicants for the 2025 awards, submitted in January, will be considered for a performance in an ICE Concert or an ACO EarShot Reading. For more info, check out this link: https://lnkd.in/ghHtb-tN

From our Friend at Next Fest: JUST PUBLISHED! See why six-time GRAMMY nominee Curtis Stewart is described as "a giant" by The New York Times and "one of the most powerful voices of our time for racial equality in classical music" by Stephanie Ann Boyd in I Care If You Listen. His bold, searing soundscape, Essay #1: Leave the People, asks what American classical music would be without blackness. This remarkable Next Fest commission electrified audiences last June and is now available for free online. WATCH THE WORLD PREMIERE: bit.ly/stewart-essay1 Next Fest Performance Fellows work directly with world-class artists like Stewart, perform throughout New York, create exciting new work that shatters disciplinary boundaries, and much more, all on a pay-what-you-can model. 2025 Fellows will bring new music to life with the legendary, multi-GRAMMY winning @kronos_quartet and other leading voices in new music. String Players, ages 20-30 are eligible to apply now! APPLY TO BE A 2025 FELLOW: next-fest.org/apply Video by Danie Harris

The American Composers Orchestra and American Composers Forum today announced a new joint initiative: The Sorel Award, a three-year opportunity for mid-career women composers that includes the workshopping and premiere of a newly-commissioned orchestral work, personalized professional development, active relationship-building, and booking support. One award will be offered every three years, and the inaugural recipient is composer Andreia Pinto Correia. This newly endowed award is made possible with a significant grant from The Elizabeth and Michel Sorel Charitable Organization, Inc., and offers catalytic support for mid-career women composers in the U.S. Addressing the needs articulated by composers served by ACO and ACF, The Sorel Award is supported by the Sorel Endowment for Women in Music, honoring pianist, educator, and philanthropist Claudette Sorel, and the memory of her parents, Elizabeth and Michel. Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gUJQRBZd