2/11/11 – The Debrief (Austin Jaquith)
On Thursday morning, the scheduled event was a debriefing from the mentor composers where they addressed significant aesthetic issues that each work brought up. In other words, we got to hear what they really thought of our pieces! I found this to be extremely helpful. None of us came to this event to get a patronizing proverbial pat on the back, and we were not disappointed. Each piece brought up issues well worth engaging. Most of the pieces elicited comments regarding form, pacing and aesthetic identity. These are of course some of the most difficult problems to sort out as a composer, and none of us created a piece that was above reproach. I suspect that time and experience will help sort out many of these issues, but we are clearly still a work in progress in that respect.
In conclusion, I can only express praise and gratitude for this event. The opportunity to experience an orchestral reading and performance has been a real inspiration to continue exploring orchestral music. Thanks to the BPO, the ACO, and all the individuals that made this event such a success!
American Composers Orchestra is grateful to the many organizations that make its programs possible including Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Fund, Altman Foundation, Amphion Foundation, Benevity, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, BMI Foundation, BMI, Inc., Charity Navigator's Giving Basket, Cheswatyr Foundation, Edward T. Cone Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Ford Foundation’s Good Neighbor Committee, Give Lively, Francis B. Goelet Charitable Trust, Fromm Music Foundation, Steven R. Gerber Trust, G. Schirmer/Wise Music Foundation, The Hearst Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Adele and John Gray Endowment Fund, Jephson Educational Trusts, Jerome Foundation, MacMillan Family Foundation, Mellon Foundation, New Music USA’s Organization Fund, The New York Community Trust (Musical Arts Fund, Clara Lewisohn Rossin Trust, and Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund), Pacific Harmony Foundation, Paypal Giving Fund, Rexford Fund, Sphinx Venture Fund, TD Charitable Foundation, Turrell Fund, UKOGF Foundation, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Corporate gifts to match employee contributions are made by Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Triton Container International Incorporated of North America, and Neiman Marcus.
Public funds are provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, Office of Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
