Composing Inclusion
National
Applications are now closed.
Composing Inclusion brings together multiple generations, musical levels, perspectives, and community members in the creation and performance of new music. Powered by the Sphinx Venture Fund, American Composers Forum, in partnership with The Juilliard School’s Preparatory Division and the New York Philharmonic, co-commissioned nine music creators who identify as Black and/or Latinx to create “flexible,” adaptive scores for players of varied musical ability. The nine commissioned works (five works for orchestra, four for chamber ensembles) were developed in collaboration with Juilliard students and Philharmonic artists over the course of several months and premiered in New York City by Juilliard Preparatory Division students performing side-by-side with members of the New York Philharmonic.
ACF oversaw the application and selection process, which attracted 71 applications. They were reviewed by Weston Sprott, Dean and Director of the Juilliard Preparatory Division; Gary Padmore, New York Philharmonic Vice President, Education and Community Engagement; Vanessa Rose, ACF’s Executive Director; Trevor Weston, composer, Juilliard Prep faculty, and program advisor; and Jacinta Clusellas, composer and teaching artist for the New York Philharmonic. Twenty-two finalists advanced to an interview round that also included Jessica Mays, composer and manager of the Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers Program and Anthony McGill, Artistic Advisor for Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program and Principal Clarinet, New York Philharmonic. The final review chose Jasmine Arielle Barnes, Nicolas Lell Benavides, Jordyn Davis, James Díaz, Thomas Flippin, Lauren Mccall, Patricia Martinez, Andrés Soto, Elijah J. Thomas as the inaugural composers.
Patricia Martinez was one of the nine composers commissioned through Composing Inclusion—sadly, she passed away shortly after being selected for the program. On May 12, we paid tribute to her at the Composing Inclusion Chamber Recital with a performance of her solo piano work, Suite dedo afónica, performed by Benjamin Wien. ACF Director of Programs Carolina Heredia reflected on Patricia’s artistic legacy in an article for I CARE IF YOU LISTEN.
ACF’s Work Behind the Scenes
ACF plays a key role in developing programs that center composers in equitable ways, connecting composers with opportunities, and building greater understanding between composers and their collaborators on the commissioning and music development process.
Given the scope of this project and the number of new experiences and new relationships for various parties, ACF continued to be heavily involved throughout the planning and implementation of the project. In addition to guiding the selection process (read more about our approach) and building the project outline with our partners, we served as composer liaison/representative with partners, copyists, and other third parties.
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Composing Inclusion Artists
ListN Up is a series of artist-curated playlists that offer an intimate sonic portrait of contempora…
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Annie Clark, Boom Bishop, Candice Hoyes, Composetheway, Gerald Clayton, Joel Ross, Jordyn Davis, ListN Up, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Mary Lou Williams, Samora Pinderhughes, Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science
ListN Up is a series of artist-curated playlists that offer an intimate sonic portrait of contempora…
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Alban Gerhardt, Alex G, Ania Vu, Catherine Lamb, Elizabeth Wesche, Erin Busch, Flannery Cunningham, James Díaz, James Primosch, Jon Heilbron, José G. Martinez, King Britt, ListN Up, Myung-Whun Chung, Rebecca Lane, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, The Crossing, Third Coast Percussion, Tyshawn Sorey, Unsuk Chin
ListN Up is a series of artist-curated playlists that offer an intimate sonic portrait of contempora…
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Aizuri Quartet, Antonio Vivaldi, Catherine Schubilske, Dmitri Shostakovich, Eleanor Alberga, Elliot Cole, Ezra Collective, Gabriella Smith, Gareth Zehngut, Gautier Capuçon, JohnPaul Beattie, Lauren McCall, Leonidas Kavakos, Matt Gold, Natsuki Kumagai, Silver Ainomäeb, Sō Percussion, Ted Moore, The Goede Hoop Marimba Band, Yuja Wang
ListN Up is a series of artist-curated playlists that offer an intimate sonic portrait of contempora…
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Awadagin Pratt, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Caitlin Edwards, Caleb van der Swaagh, Carnegie Hall, Chabrelle Williams, Jasmine Barnes, Jessica Meyer, Jessie Montgomery, Johnna Wu, Kobi Malkin, Margaret Bonds, Monica Ohuchi, Nancy Ives
ListN Up is a series of artist-curated playlists that offer an intimate sonic portrait of contempora…
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Adrian Piper, Bob Merrill, Carl T. Fischer, Cleveland Symphonic Winds, Donald Byrd, Earth, Elijah J. Thomas, Fonce Mizell, Frankie Laine, Fred Hopkins, Frederick Fennell, Gustav Holst, Haki Madhubuti, Henry Threadgill, Hermeto Pascoal, Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo, Jason Mizell, Jason Moran, Jule Styne, Maurice White, Nicole Mitchell, Odetta, Phillip Bailey, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Steve McCall, The Blackbyrds, Wind & Fire
Composing Inclusion
Cycle 1 Performances
Spanning two concerts on April 2 and May 6, 2023, the first cycle of Composing Inclusion saw the premieres of Thomas Flippin’s string quartet The Lost Village of Seneca and three orchestral works: Jordyn Davis’ As I Am, James Diaz’s and does the Moon also fall?, and Trevor Weston’s Subwaves.
Cycle 1 Score Samples
Composing Inclusion
Cycle 2 Performances
In two concerts on April 20 and May 12, 2024, the second cycle included the premiere of two orchestral works — Andrés Soto’s Fantasía en la Plaza and Nicolás Lell Benavides’ Querencia — and three chamber works: Lauren McCall’s Rails Beneath the Skylines, Elijah J. Thomas’ Dectet: an antiphon for all times, and Jasmine Barnes’ new work for brass ensemble.
Cycle 2 Score Samples
Regional
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Supports the creation and presentation of new work. Five grants are available for early career artists in Minnesota or NYC.
National
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Residency for two non-Minnesota based composers to serve as visiting artist collaborators on a project with a MN community.
Regional
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Four annual fellowships of $25,000 in unrestricted funds awarded to mid-career artists and culture bearers based in Minnesota.
National
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Provides opportunities for composers to build relationships with ensembles to create new work and engage with new communities.