“The women’s opera commissioning program that Opera America announced in December will have a symphonic counterpart, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation program for commissioning women in the performing arts,” writes Allan Kozinn in Wednesday’s (2/12) New York Times. “The new orchestral project, announced on Wednesday by the League of American Orchestras, is to be administered by the league, and is part of EarShot, a national network of orchestras that offer readings and workshops for composers in the early stages of their careers.… The commission fee is $15,000, and includes a premiere of the commissioned work.… Composers will hear their works rehearsed and performed with one of four orchestras … the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic or the American Composers Orchestra. The composers will also participate in workshops and mentoring sessions with established composers.… ‘This new effort complements our prior work in support of women conductors,’ Jesse Rosen, the president of the League of Orchestras said…. ‘This program offers the rare opportunity for composers to have their works read and to receive a commission—two essential, but hard to come by, opportunities for professional growth.’ ”
Posted February 13, 2014
