Seven Emerging Composers Chosen for 2010 Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute

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Composers will travel to Minneapolis for Orchestra’s acclaimed professional training program; Institute runs from October 24 to 30, highlighted by October 29 Future Classics concert

Seven emerging composers have been selected as participants in the Minnesota Orchestra’s tenth annual Composer Institute, Institute Director Aaron Jay Kernis announced today. Chosen from a pool of 168 candidates through a competitive process, the composers represent four nationalities and reside throughout the U.S. , and their works encompass a variety of musical styles. They will be in Minneapolis from October 24 to 30, 2010, for rehearsals, seminars and tutoring sessions, as well as a public concert of their works on Friday, October 29, led by Music Director Osmo Vänskä.

The participants are Taylor Brizendine of Los Angeles , California ; Chinese-born Wang Jie of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; Russian-born Polina Nazaykinskaya of Austin , Texas ; Clint Needham of Bloomington , Indiana ; Ben Phelps of Los Angeles , California ; Thailand native Narong Prangcharoen of Kansas City , Missouri ; and David Weaver of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .

“We received dozens of exceptionally-crafted scores, which made the final choices difficult,” says Mr. Kernis, who chaired the selection panel. “The high quality of submissions confirms what we know from past Composer Institutes: the future of new orchestral music is vibrant and strong.” Other panel members included composers Augusta Read Thomas, Bright Sheng and Stacy Garrop—a Composer Institute alumnus—as well as the Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor Courtney Lewis.

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