American Composers Orchestra (ACO) announces its 2022-2023 season, under the leadership of Artistic Director Derek Bermel and President Melissa Ngan. ACO is dedicated to the creation, celebration, performance, and promotion of orchestral music by American composers, with a commitment to diversity, disruption, and discovery. This season’s slate of performances includes eight premieres of new works by American composers, as well as the re-launch of ACO’s EarShot CoLABoratory workshop program; the continuation of ACO’s national EarShot Readings program for emerging composers with orchestras across the country; and its Sonic Spark Education program reaching at least 500 students in New York City schools.
ACO Artistic Director Derek Bermel says, “Our 2022-23 season showcases the creativity and diverse viewpoints of four generations of living American composers. ACO also celebrates the virtuosity of our New York City community of artists, including soloists Jeffrey Zeigler and Kaki King and the ensembles Sandbox Percussion and Attacca Quartet. We look forward to welcoming audiences this season for a rich tapestry of musical storytelling.”
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Carnegie Hall by bringing together some of the most dynamic soloists, ensembles, and conductors active on new music stages today showcasing predominantly world premiere works by composers who have close ties to ACO’s national EarShot composer advancement programs,” says ACO President Melissa Ngan. “Among this season’s featured artists are alumni and mentors of our EarShot Readings, Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute, and fellows in our newly refreshed CoLABoratory residencies – each expanding the definition of American orchestral music through their distinct compositional voice.”
Re-Launch of EarShot CoLABoratory with 2022-2023 Fellows
inti figgis-vizueta, Trevor New, Yvette Janine Jackson, and Mendi & Keith Obadike
Conducted by Glenn Alexander II
October 4, 2022 | Open Workshop with ACO Musicians | The DiMenna Center for Classical Music
ACO’s EarShot CoLABoratory 2022-2023 Fellows are inti figgis-vizueta, Trevor New, Yvette Janine Jackson, and Mendi & Keith Obadike. The Fellows will participate in collaborative sessions with ACO musicians to workshop musical ideas and facilitate co-learning, and will engage in ACO’s artistic curation and educational and community-focused programming. Their resulting works will be premiered by ACO over the course of the season. EarShot CoLABoratory Fellowships advance the work of composers whose work is experimental or rooted in musical traditions underrepresented in orchestral repertoire. The program addresses systemic barriers within orchestral commissioning, providing a gateway to the field and a generative environment for composers from diverse musical backgrounds to create definition-expanding work for orchestra. The public will have the opportunity to hear these works-in-progress at an EarShot CoLABoratory Open Workshop for the Fellows with ACO musicians on October 4, 2022 at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Glenn Alexander II will conduct this CoLABoratory Workshop, and will also be the cover conductor for ACO’s October 20 concert at Carnegie Hall. Read more about ACO’s EarShot CoLABoratory program >
The Natural Order at Carnegie Hall
October 20, 2022 | Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Conducted by Mei-Ann Chen
Jeffrey Zeigler, cello | Attacca Quartet | Sandbox Percussion | Yvette Janine Jackson, electronics
Premieres by Mark Adamo, Viet Cuong, inti figgis-vizueta, Yvette Janine Jackson
Modern Yesterdays
March 16, 2023 | Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Conducted by Daniela Candillari | Kaki King, guitar
Premieres by George E. Lewis, Ellen Reid, Jihyun Noel Kim, Kaki King
ACO EarShot Readings in New York
June 1-2, 2023 | Mannes School of Music
Conducted by Tito Muñoz
The Next Festival of Emerging Artists EarShot Workshop in New York
June 8-9, 2023 | Location TBA
Conducted by Peter Askim
As part of the EarShot program, ACO will again offer online EarShot Professional Development Seminars throughout the season, for participating EarShot composers as well as the wider composer community. Topics to be discussed include fundraising and grants, publishing, score and part preparation, public speaking, rehearsal techniques and procedures, commissions, networking and marketing, and much more. Details will be announced this fall. Read more about ACO’s EarShot Professional Development program >
ACO’s Sonic Spark Education Programs Continue Serving New York City Students
ACO’s Sonic Spark education programs will reach at least 500 students in New York City this season. Sonic Spark uses composition as a platform to unlock students’ creativity. Sonic Spark Lab is offered in partnership with a number of New York City middle and high schools. These semester-long courses teach students to engage with their creativity, harness their curiosity, and collaborate to complete original musical works. Three composer teaching artists teach the curriculum, including Jess Marlor, Trevor New and Lucy Yao. Sonic Spark Ensembles engage students with active music-making, whether through song, percussion, or other instruments. This school-based program is customized to enhance and magnify the educational and social objectives of the school and taught by a dedicated team of accomplished professional Teaching Artists. Compose Yourself provides advanced curriculum in two formats, in-school and out-of-school. The program serves approximately 50 high school age musicians with direct instruction in music composition. Classes help young composers develop their creativity and learn professional standards in a supportive, hands-on environment; the program has a strong record of preparing students for the rigors of college and beyond. Read more about ACO’s Sonic Spark education programs >
ACO 2022 Creative Catalyst Awards & Gala – October 11, 2022
2022 Creative Catalyst Award Recipients: Denise Young and John Adams | Bryant Park Grill
ACO’s 2022 Gala on October 11, 2022 launches the inaugural year of ACO’s Creative Catalyst Award, which recognizes artists and leaders who exemplify its core values of discovery, diversity, disruption. 2022 Creative Catalyst Award Recipients are artist and SFJAZZ Board Chair Denise Young and composer and conductor John Adams. Artists featured at the Gala will include Timo Andres, composer and pianist; Gilbert Galindo, composer and DJ-producer; Paula Matthusen, composer; Trevor New, violist and composer; Alicia Olatuja, vocalist; Leanna Primiani, composer; Huang Ruo, composer; Olivia Valentine, artist; and Jeffrey Zeigler, cellist. The Gala will be held at Bryant Park Grill. Read more about ACO’s 2022 Gala and Creative Catalyst Award >
