“The Kennedy Center announced today the first major innovation of president Deborah Rutter: the appointment of its first-ever composer-in-residence,” writes Anne Midgette in Wednesday’s (1/28) Washington Post. Mason Bates’ activities during a three-year term “will include composing music for the center’s various constituents, curating a new contemporary music series, and working on different avenues for community and audience inclusion.” A Kennedy Center press release notes that commissions will include works for the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, the Fortas Chamber Music Concerts, and performances of contemporary dance. “Bates is in the final season of a six-year stint as one of two composers-in-residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which Rutter ran before coming to Washington.… Bates and his [Chicago Symphony] co-resident, Anna Clyne, reinvigorated the orchestra’s contemporary music series … wrote major works … and even got [Music Director Riccardo] Muti into a dance club…. ‘Mason will help initiate a new era of creative programming here at the Kennedy Center,’ Rutter said.… ‘He will also be an incredible ambassador as we continue our efforts to bring a refined vision of the listening experience to a larger audience, both at the Center and in the greater Washington community.’ ”
Posted January 29, 2015
