Elizabeth is the recipient of a coveted 2011 McKnight Foundation Composer Fellowship!
Photo by Ann Marsden
(Yes, it's true. I coveted it.)
Recipients of McKnight Foundation Fellowships are chosen on the basis of their artistic work. For composers, an incredibly important part of presenting our work hinges on performances and recordings. No matter how beautiful our musical scores are, without performers who bring their talent, musicianship and experience to our compositions, it's very difficult for fellowship panelists to fully comprehend what our music is all about.
This year I was lucky enough to have quite a few amazing musicians bring their mettle to my music! I want to introduce you to the three ensembles whose recordings represented my work to the McKnight Foundation panelists. Thank you, thank you, thank you! -E.A.
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Cantala, Lawrence University's stellar women's choir, sank their teeth into Reasons for the Perpetuation of Slavery, with an unflinching performance that brought the audience to its feet. Conductor Phillip Swan conducted this premiere with intelligence, precision and passion.
Commissioned in 2010 by the ACDA Women's Choir Commissioning Consortium, this work will be performed by several other choirs during the 2011-2012 season, including a performance in New York City's Avery Fisher Hall.
Reasons for the Perpetuation of Slavery: Recording
Lyrics, Score & Program Notes
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Cantala Women's Choir (Conductor Phillip Swan)
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When I delivered an unconventional new work to Northfield Youth Choirs and conductor Elizabeth Shepley, in which the choral parts are built entirely from the phonetic sounds in a single word, they "jumped right in!" Their delightful and utterly convincing premiere of Jump! tells a story of hesitaion, determination, courage, one wild leap of faith, and (lucky for us all) a safe landing!
Jump!: Recording
Lyrics, Score & Program Notes
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Northfield Youth Choirs (Conductor Elizabeth Shepley)
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Kansas City Chorale brought imagination, color and restraint to their exquisite performance of Shelter This Candle. Their rendition received accolades from the Kansas City Star and KC Metropolis, which cited the choir's "rock-steady technique...vocal unity...and clear-toned vocalization."
Shelter This Candle: Recording (excerpt)
Lyrics, Score & Program Notes
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Kansas City Chorale (Artistic director Charles Bruffy)
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