ORGANIZATIONS

This is part of our campaign to identify and describe the organizations currently dedicated to career opportunities for the American composer. This feature is designed to cover service organizations, consortia, collectives, presenters, performing ensembles and media groups (radio and cable TV stations, CD labels, etc.), whether they are not-for-profit or for-profit. Our hope is to accumulate these reports into a comprehensive composite collection that will be readily available to our subscribers. [For the benefit of guests of our website, here are two of the organizations summarized in our second report.]

If your organization is not included here, we invite you to submit a similar brief history and summary of your own new music organization's activities. For-profit CD companies engaged primarily in the recording of new music are also invited. E-mail publisher@newmusicon.org.

THE AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA

ACO is the world’s only orchestra dedicated exclusively to performing symphonic works by American composers. Through a subscription series at Carnegie Hall, recordings, radio broadcasts, educational programs, new music reading sessions, and commissions, ACO is the nation’s most dynamic exponent of American composers and their music. By championing the music of this country’s brightest established and emerging composers, ACO increases national awareness of the infinite varieties – stylistic, geographic and ethnic – of orchestral music in this country, Since its founding in 1977, the orchestra has programmed 450 works by 380 American composers, including 108 world premieres, and awarded 97 commissions.

Given ACO’s singular mission as an orchestra created to serve this country’s composers, ACO has developed a unique artistic leadership structure – one which integrates the composers voice into every facet of its programs and planning. Dennis Russell Davies, an internationally-renowned conductor who has championed contemporary music throughout his career, served as ACO’s founding and principal conductor and remains today as Music Director. Award-winning composer Robert Beaser serves as Artistic Advisor.

The creation and performance of new orchestral works remains ACO’s essential focus, but the commitment extends beyond this. A quality performance is only the beginning: we advocate on behalf of composers, promote exchange between composers, educate young people and provide important career-building opportunities for up-and-coming composers. As we look to the future, ACO is challenged to do even more: by spreading performances through residencies and seminars; radio and new media opportunities; broadening the information network for new orchestral music; encouraging repeat performances by other orchestras; and furthering professional development opportunities for composers.

ACO/ 1775 Broadway, Ste. 525
New York, NY 10019-1903
fax 212-977-8995
www.americancomposers.org

NEW YORK WOMEN COMPOSERS

The focus on works by women is intended to address the significant exclusion of women from the mainstream of contemporary music in concert programs, recordings and academic positions. NYWC:

(1) Provides a network for women who are composers and for those who have other interests in contemporary concert music.

(2) Has developed an online researchable database listing works composed by members together with other relevant information about the works, how scores may be obtained, and about the composers The database is located at http://metalab.unc.edu/nywc

(3) Regularly updates and improves its online researchable database and provides individual web sites for members.

(4) Produces concerts at a variety of venues in and outside New York City.

(5) Holds regular meetings open to all interested women who may join the organization for an annual dues. It is expected that the dues will be $40 per year commencing at a date to be determined in 2000.

To obtain more information please email: NYWC President Marilyn Bliss at 73304.1643@compuserve.com or Beth Anderson, Treasurer at beand@interport.net

Marilyn Bliss, Pres. NYWC
34-40 79^th Street, #5E
Jackson Heights, NY 11372