“After more than 400 composers ranging in age from 9 to 84 had submitted their scores, six finalists were chosen to come to Avery Fisher Hall to hear the New York Philharmonic play their pieces” at a Tuesday rehearsal, writes Michael Cooper in Wednesday’s (6/4) New York Times. “The Philharmonic selected works by three of them”— Julia Adolphe (26), Max Grafe (25), and Andrew McManus (29)—“to play at concerts this week …. [during] its 11-day new music festival, the NY Phil Biennial…. McManus said that there had been few surprises hearing [his] piece [‘Strobe’] played live ‘aside from the feeling of, “Oh my God, the New York Philharmonic is playing this piece.” The article notes that the process was the fruit of a collaboration between the Philharmonic and EarShot. “Mr. Gilbert, who did the reading in the midst of a fast-paced week … said afterward that he was attracted by the opportunity to present music by composers in various stages of their careers. ‘For the Philharmonic to do this is a real statement,’ he said.” The New York Philharmonic EarShot New Music Readings are also part of the League of American Orchestras’ initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for female composers, made possible by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Program for Commissioning Women in the Performing Arts.
Posted June 5, 2014
Pictured: Composer Julia Adolphe with mentor Steven Mackey at the New York Philharmonic’s Tuesday rehearsal of her piece “Dark Sand, Sifting Light” at Avery Fisher Hall. Photo by Karsten Moran
