The Minnesota Orchestra performs new orchestral works by seven of today's top emerging composers in its annual Future Classics concert, played under the baton of Music Director Osmo Vänskä. The concert, held on Friday, February 3, is the capstone of the 14th Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, co-presented with the American Composers Forum; the program has consistently earned national recognition. Returning for his third year as the director of the Composer Institute is composer Kevin Puts. All seven featured composers will be present to introduce their music at the concert, which will be emceed by Fred Child, who hosts American Public Media'sPerformance Today.
Collectively, the program's seven featured composers have studied at some of the nation's top universities and conservatories, including New England Conservatory, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Michigan, New York University, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, Eastman School of Music, Cornell University and the Juilliard School. In addition to their composition careers, the participants are employed as faculty at the University of Hawaii, the Walden School and Mahidol University College of Music in Thailand and on the staff at Carnegie Hall, among other institutions.
The pieces on this program encompass a variety of musical styles and most will receive their first performance by a major American orchestra during the Future Classics concert. Two pieces also receive their world premiere at this performance: Music from the Castle of Heaven by Michael-Thomas Foumai and Chiaroscuro by Phil Taylor; in addition, Spilled Orange by Judy Bozone receives its U.S. premiere.
Inspired by the title of a book by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, composer Michael-Thomas Foumai wrote Music from the Castle of Heaven to take listeners on a sonic journey through the clouds.
Full Article: http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/article/Vnsk-Conducts-FUTURE-CLASSICS-Concert-of-New-Music-by-Emerging-Composers-at-2016-17-Composer-Institute-20170112
