The American Composers Orchestra has announced the appointment of Derek Bermel as artistic director, effective with the 2013-14 season. In addition, George Manahan has extended his contract as ACO music director for five years. Based in New York City, American Composers Orchestra is dedicated to the creation, performance, and preservation of music by American composers. Bermel has been the ACO’s creative advisor since 2009, and succeeds artistic director Robert Beaser, who will become artistic advisor laureate. Derek Bermel is a composer and clarinetist whose works have been commissioned and performed by the ACO and other organizations. He was the ACO’s Music Alive composer in residence from 2006-09, and has served on ACO board of directors since 2009. As creative advisor, he programmed the ACO’s Orchestra Underground series at Carnegie Hall and the ACO’S new-music festival SONiC, which featured 21st-century music by 120 emerging composers. Bermel has also been active in the ACO’s composer-development initiatives including the Underwood New Music Readings and EarShot programs, and served as artist-faculty member for the Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute.
Posted May 24, 2013
