Kevin James

Kevin James photo courtesy Meet The Composer

Working with the Coalition for the Homeless, the Quintet of the Americas, the Sirius String Quartet, and The Kitchen Center for Video, Music, and Dance, composer Kevin James's residency will focus on a project that will provide New York City's homeless population with a musical means of easing and expressing their feelings of isolation, fear, and depression. In an effort to connect the homeless to the greater New York community, Mr. James will compose a new work, entitled "Portraits." The composition will consist of taped material the composer has gathered from over 700 homeless people throughout the city. The premiere of "Portraits" will feature various chamber ensembles and soloists.

In addition to composing "Portraits," Mr. James will provide presenting ensembles with the opportunity to share in the lives of New York's homeless community by working with Mr. James to nurture the creativity of homeless children, musicians, and poets through a variety of mentoring and community programs, which will encourage them to compose their own music. During his residency, Mr. James will also compose four multi-movement song cycles -- one for each of the host and collaborating ensembles -- which will employ texts drawn from the work of homeless poets participating in the mentoring program. The works will be premiered by participating ensembles and guest vocalists in a series of public performances at The Kitchen and elsewhere throughout the city.

Kevin James, born in Michigan and raised in Philadelphia, has Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Philosophy degrees from DePauw University in Indiana and a Masters of Music from Brooklyn College. He has studied with a number of distinguished composers including David Del Tredici, John Harbison, Leroy Jenkins, Bernard Rands, and Augusta Read Thomas. Mr. James has recently received grants from the American Composer's Forum Composer's Commissioning Program and the Jerome Foundation and has been commissioned to compose a chamber piece for the German ensemble Trio Akkobasso. Several of his works have been recorded by the Quadragos Trombone Collective, and others were heard in several new music series, including the Second Helpings Series of the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Before coming to NewYork to finish his education and pursue his composing career, Mr. James worked with geriatric and mentally infirm patients and as a church-based family counselor working with troubled youths. He has found that his early experiences of service to people on the edges of society have deeply colored his approach to composing and the creative process.