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2002 COMPOSERS COMMISSIONING PROGRAM

(Sounding Board, November 2002) The Forum has announced the recipients of the 2002 Composers Commissioning Program (CCP) awards. Funded by the Jerome Foundation, CCP is one of the nation's only commissioning supporting the production of new musical works by emerging composers. In addition to boosting emerging composers' careers by offering early commissions (often their first), CCP provides more experienced composers with opportunities to expand their boundaries.

The program is open to Minnesota and New York City composers, as well as those working with Minnesota ensembles and presenters. Awards this year ranged from $5,500 to $8,000; a total of 12 projects were awarded from a pool of $90,000. Each commission's performer is also eligible to apply for a Performance Outreach Grant to bring the commissioned work to new audiences.

The three-member selections panel for this year's commissions included San Francisco composer Alexis Alrich, composer and Hartt School teacher Robert Carl, and drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt (Weather Report and McCoy Tyner).

The selected composers were …

  • Marc Anderson (Minneapolis), to compose a work for the Bells of the Lakes Handbell Choir.
  • Jeffrey Brooks (Minneapolis), to compose a piano trio for the Bakken Trio.
  • Annie Gosfield (New York City), to compose a cello and CD work for Joan Jeanrenaud.
  • Casey Hale (New York City), to compose for the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra.
  • Chris Jentsch (New York City), to compose a work for the Jentsch Group Large.
  • Michelle Kinney (Golden Valley, Minn.), to compose a work for harmonic singer Timothy Hill.
  • Scott Miller (St. Cloud, Minn.), to compose a work for Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble with electronics.
  • Basya Schechter (New York City), to compose "Trance: The Ecstasy of Memory" for her ensemble in collaboration with video artist Pearl Gluck.
  • Sarah Snider (New York City), to compose a string quartet for the Quatuor Bozzini.
  • James Syler (San Antonio, Texas), to compose for the Artaria String Quartet of St. Paul.
  • Ying Zhang (St. Paul), to compose for the Minnesota Chinese Music Ensemble.
  • Lev Zhurbin (New York City), to compose for viola, cello, and turntable to be presented at the Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts.

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