ACO Composers

From exploring the legacy of great American composers to premiering new works in unforgettable experiences, ACO brings you to the forefront of new music.

ACO exists to inspire, develop, and support American composers who want to create new orchestral music. For over 40 years, we have celebrated and worked with composers such as Philip Glass, Tania León, Joan Tower, and Wynton Marsalis, and more recently Paola Prestini, Du Yun, Alex Temple and Carlos Simon. We have premiered over 350 pieces at venues across NYC including Carnegie Hall, Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and placed these works with orchestras nationwide. We are dedicated to inclusion and representing all the voices and views that reflect America today. ACO aims to challenge the stereotypical image of a “composer” by supporting creative artists from North, Central and South Americas, especially BIPOC, immigrant, women, transgender and nonbinary artists.

Jonathan Bailey Holland

A native of Flint, MI, composer Jonathan Bailey Holland’s works have been commissioned and performed by orchestras and chamber ensembles across America.

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Hilary Purrington is a composer of chamber, vocal, and orchestral music. Her work has received recognition from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, ASCAP, the International Alliance for Women in Music, and the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC), among others.

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Julia Adolphe

A composer, writer, and soprano whose music embraces diverse artistic and sociological influences, unfolding intricate emotional narratives. Adolphe's work has received performances across the United States and abroad.

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