Henry Brant (1913-2008)
American composer Henry Brant, known for his pioneering development of spatial music, died in his home in Santa Barbara, California, on Saturday April 26, 2008 with his wife and children at his bedside. He was 94. read more
By Frank J. Oteri
Published: 4/28/2008

NewMusicBoxOffice: The Other Merry Month
Along with the nice weather, the month of May brings those final exams one step closer, makes graduation seem like it might actually happen, and, of course, provides tons of concerts to distract all you students and non-matriculating music-lovers from your daily grind. read more
By Randy Nordschow
Published: 4/23/2008

New Music News Wire
The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) closed its office on April 18, 2008, and has filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Composers Keeril Makan and Kurt Rohde are among the 2008 Rome Prize winners from the American Academy in Rome. Composer Douglas J. Cuomo has been signed to exclusive publishing contract with Schott Helicon. The Dutch-based Imagem Music buys Boosey & Hawkes for 126 million pounds. Christopher Young to receive Kirk Award at BMI Film & Television Awards. ASCAP Concert Music Awards to honor John Corigliano, JoAnn Falletta, Joseph Jennings, and David Lang. Anne Manson receives Gold Debut Award for her New York City Opera debut, conducting Samuel Barber's Vanessa. ASCAP has officially issued a 10-point "Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers." Bebe Barron, co-composer of the first all electronic music score for Hollywood (Forbidden Planet, 1956), died on April 20, 2008. Boston-based pianist Sarah Bob plans to walk for music to raise $2,000 toward commissioning funds on behalf of the New Gallery Concert Series for a new work by Michael Gandolfi. read more
Published: 4/21/2008

Scene Scan: New Orleans' Heartbeat is a Band
In New Orleans, music is for living: for dancing, for grieving, celebrating, eating, parading. It's in the streets just as much as on the stage. It's a music that reflects the history of the city and it's music that is growing (and shrinking) along side it. More than any place I've experienced, music is community—it's not about the virtuosity or perfection of a player, but about their intention and spirit, of which there is no shortage. read more
By Aurora Nealand
Published: 4/16/2008

New Music News Wire
Meet The Composer awards Van Lier Fellowships to Gilbert Galindo and Majid Khaliq. ASCAP announces 2008 Morton Gould Young Composer Award Recipients. Ten composers awarded 2008 Guggenheim Fellowships. OPERA America and Opera.ca announce 2008 Opera Fund Awards totalling $380K. Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho wins the 2008 Nemmers Prize. A new technology called Radio Companion gives Blackberry users access to 2,700 U.S. radio playlists. Composer, conductor, and educator Gerhard Samuel dies in Seattle. read more
Published: 4/7/2008

David Lang's The Little Match Girl Passion awarded 2008 Pulitzer
David Lang's The Little Match Girl Passion has been awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Music and Bob Dylan has received a Special Citation. Additional finalists for the Prize were Stephen Hartke's Meanwhile and Roberto Sierra's Viola Concerto. Jurors for the Prize were Ingrid Monson (Chair), Dwight Andrews, Steven Blier, Tim Page, and Steven Stucky. read more
Published: 4/7/2008

NewMusicBoxOffice: When It Rains, It Pours
Spring has sprung, and warmer weather is on its way...eventually. As mercury levels rise, so does the urge to leave the toasty comfort of home—destination: concert hall. read more
By Randy Nordschow
Published: 3/24/2008

New Music News Wire
Boston Modern Orchestra Project launches new record label and plans to issue ten CDs in 2008. Six composers—Ruby Fulton, Takuma Itoh, Andrew McKenna Lee, Leanna Primiani, Conrad Winslow, and Roger Zare—have been chosen to participate in the American Composers Orchestra/Underwood New Music Readings. read more
Published: 3/21/2008

South by Southwest Points To New Directions
Faced with over 30 different genres of music ranging from bluegrass to metal, at SXSW the devoted fan might stumble upon hipper-than-hip indie acts, veterans like Sonic Youth, The Breeders, and R.E.M., grizzled blues men, Scandinavian death metal bands, or...Steve Reich. Yes, if there is a place for Jandek and Bud Melvin at SXSW, then surely there must also be a place for the patriarch of minimalism. Right?... read more
By Robert Honstein
Published: 3/19/2008

Dorothy Stone, a Remembrance
Dorothy Stone was a driving force behind the Ear Unit, along the way inspiring dozens of composers to write adventurously for flute, performing in over a hundred concerts at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and many more around the U.S. and Europe. Alone, and with the EAR Unit, Dorothy participated in a huge number of premiere performances, particularly by young composers, and also had works written for her by many leading composers including Andriessen, Babbitt, Carter, Powell, Riley, Rzewski, and Subotnick. read more
By Rand Steiger
Published: 3/17/2008

Broadcasting Messages From Party Central: A Sonic Guide to the 2008 Whitney Biennial
Neighborhood Public Radio is bringing something new to the table. Far from the hermetically sealed, tech'ed-out recording booths utilized by the national moniker-sharing entity they often mock, this NPR is something like guerrilla art verging on community service. NPR's focus and content is nebulous at best, but this is exactly what makes its impact so powerful—it's a snapshot of the surrounding community with everyone, and I mean everyone from the well-behaved bum asking for change to the adventurous museum trustee willing to drop in, at the helm. NPR's motto is: If it's in the neighborhood and it makes noise, we hope to put it on the air. read more
By Randy Nordschow
Published: 3/12/2008

New Music News Wire
Fifteen composers receive $165K in American Academy Of Arts and Letters Awards. The 2008 Generation Next Young Composer's Competition winners announced. James E. Schaeffer is named new CEO of theCenter for Contemporary Opera. Composer Leonard Rosenman dies at the age of 83. read more
Published: 3/7/2008

New Music News Wire
Robert Ashley, Joan LaBarbara, Edgar Meyer, Ned Rorem, and Joan Tower will receive the American Music Center's Letter of Distinction, Steve Reich will receive the AMC's Founders Award, and Derek Bermel will be given the AMC’s Trailblazer Award at the American Music Center’s annual meeting on May 5, 2008. Thirteen compositions, including works by American composers—Huck Hodge and Jenny Olivia Johnson—have been selected for performance during the Gaudeamus Music Week, taking place from September 1 to 7, 2008 in Amsterdam. Composer, performer, educator, and electronic music authority Allen Strange passed away on February 20, 2008 near his home in Bainbridge Island in Washington state. read more
Published: 2/29/2008

NewMusicBoxOffice: Extramusical Marketing At Its Very Best
I don't know if concert presenters are sensing a mid-season fatigue on the part of concertgoers, but March seems to be shaping up into a heavily theme-driven month for new music here in the Big Apple. Whether or not you're a fan of these gimmicky strategies for packaging a concert, in the end it's still all about the music, plus the marketing department gets to have a little fun, too... read more
By Randy Nordschow
Published: 2/20/2008

New Music News Wire
Zhou Tian receives the Green Bay Commission Club's first orchestral commission. ASCAP announces the 2008 Young Jazz Composer awards. Michael Daugherty wins the 2007 ABA/Ostwald Award. Osvaldo Golijov receives first Vilcek Foundation Prize for Music. Mary G. Madigan has been named new Director of Programs at Meet The Composer. read more
Published: 2/15/2008