Performances
& Events

March
2026
21
12:00 am
May
2014
4
12:00 pm

The ACO partners with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra for a two part New Music readings with esteemed American composers. Composers not only get the opportunity to hear their works performed by a live orchestra, but they will revise their works for a second reading after two months.

The ACO partners with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra for a two part New Music readings with esteemed American composers. Composers not only get the opportunity to hear their works performed by a live orchestra, but they will revise their works for a second reading after two months.

The Osher Studio
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March
2014
9
12:00 am

The ACO partners with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for their 2014 Earshot New Music readings titled "Classical Roots"

The ACO partners with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for their 2014 Earshot New Music readings titled "Classical Roots"

DSO Orchestra Hall
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February
2014
2
4:00 pm

The ACO partners with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra for a two part New Music readings with esteemed American composers. Composers not only get the opportunity to hear their works performed by a live orchestra, but they will revise their works for a second reading after two months.

The ACO partners with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra for a two part New Music readings with esteemed American composers. Composers not only get the opportunity to hear their works performed by a live orchestra, but they will revise their works for a second reading after two months.

The Osher Studio
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April
2013
23
12:00 am

The ACO and the Buffalo Philharmonic present the 2013 Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute (JCOI) Earshot New Music Readings featuring the some of the country's most talented emerging American Jazz composers.

The ACO and the Buffalo Philharmonic present the 2013 Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute (JCOI) Earshot New Music Readings featuring the some of the country's most talented emerging American Jazz composers.

Kleinhans Music Hall
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April
2013
8
12:00 am

22nd Annual Underwood New Music Readings and CommissionApril 8-10, 2013Up to six composers in the early stages of their careers will be selected to participate. One will be awarded a $15,000 commission to write a new work to be performed by ACO.  There are no age restrictions; however, applicants should be at the early stages of their professional careers. Each composer may submit only one composition for consideration. Only works that will not have been performed or read by a professional orchestra nor received a public performance prior to the reading date are eligible. Do not submit recordings. Only works completed after January 1, 2008, will be considered. Compositions should be up to 15 minutes in length. Shorter works, or a portion or movement from longer works, will also be considered. Maximum instrumentation is: Winds 3*3*3*3*; Brass 4.3*3*1; Timpani + 4 Percussion, Harp, Keyboard; and Strings 10.8.6.6.4. (Standard orchestral doublings are permitted.) Works requiring soloists will not be considered. If selected, composers must provide professional, legible orchestral parts and scores prepared according to guidelines established by the Major Orchestral Librarians Association (MOLA) by March 1, 2013. MOLA guidelines can be found at:http://www.mola-inc.org/MOLAGuidelinesText.htm The quality of the score submitted is the primary evaluation criteria. It is therefore in the applicant’s best interest that the score be clear and accurate. Works employing electronics, MIDI, digital technology, and/or sound reinforcement in combination with the above instrumental forces will NOT be considered, neither will incomplete, illegible, or late applications. Composers who have applied previously for an UNMR are eligible to apply. However you must submit a new, complete application, including score and all required background information. Please contact the American Composers Orchestra with any questions concerning eligibility.At the Readings, composers will meet with ACO artistic staff and orchestra members—including conductor and music director George Manahan, artistic director Robert Beaser and mentor composer Christopher Theofanidis. The Readings are professionally recorded, and each composer is given a high-quality audio recording to be used for study purposes. Composers also participate in a series of professional development workshops covering such topics as promotion, score preparation, copyright and commissioning agreements, and other career essentials. Participants’ travel expenses are provided.

Miller Theater at Columbia University
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June
2012
1
12:00 am

21st Annual Underwood New Music Readings and Commission June 1-3, 2012Up to six composers in the early stages of their careers will be selected to participate. One will be awarded a $15,000 commission to write a new work to be performed by ACO.The readings are the core of ACO’s ongoing professional training programs for emerging American composers.At the Readings, composers will meet with ACO artistic staff and orchestra members—including conductor and music director George Manahan, artistic director Robert Beaser and mentor composers Derek Bermel, Steven Stucky, and Melinda Wagner—and receive critical commentary and feedback. The Readings are professionally recorded, and each composer is given a high-quality audio recording to be used for study purposes. Composers also participate in a series of professional development workshops covering such topics as promotion, score preparation, copyright and commissioning agreements, and other career essentials. Participants’ travel expenses are provided.

21st Annual Underwood New Music Readings and Commission

Miller Theater at Columbia University
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April
2012
19
12:00 am

The ACO partners with the San Diego Symphony for their 2012 Earshot New Music Readings

The ACO partners with the San Diego Symphony for their 2012 Earshot New Music Readings

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February
2011
9
12:00 am

The ACO partners with the Buffalo Philharmonic for their 2011 Earshot New Music Readings.

The ACO partners with the Buffalo Philharmonic for their 2011 Earshot New Music Readings.

Kleinhans Music Hall
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May
2010
20
5:30 pm

19th Annual Underwood New Music Readings featuring new music by American composers.

Miller Theater at Columbia University
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April
2010
16
12:00 am

The ACO partners with the Pioneer Valley Symphony for their 2010 Earshot New Music Readings.

The ACO partners with the Pioneer Valley Symphony for their 2010 Earshot New Music Readings.

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July
2009
17
12:00 am

The ACO partners with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for their first season of Earshot New Music Readings

The ACO partners with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for their first season of Earshot New Music Readings

Boettcher Concert Hall
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May
2009
20
12:00 am

The ACO joins the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for their very first Earshot New Music Reading in 2009

The ACO joins the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for their very first Earshot New Music Reading

Canon Center for the Performing Arts
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May
2009
6
1:30 pm

The Underwood New Music Readings present an opportunity to selected young composers to have there works read and recorded by a professional orchestra. The event is open to the public and ACO reaches out to schools and other music organizations inviting them to attend the readings.

Miller Theater at Columbia University
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May
2008
5
5:30 pm

The American Composers Orchestra presents the 17th Annual Underwood New Music Readings, featuring readings by emerging American Composers.

The American Composers Orchestra presents the 17th Annual Underwood New Music Readings.

Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
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May
2007
8
9:00 am

American Composers Orchestra announces its 16th annual Underwood New Music Reading Sessions to be held at the Skirball Center for Performing Arts in New York City on May 8 & 9, 2007. Up to eight composers in the early stages of their careers will be selected to participate. One will be awarded a $15,000 commission to write a new work to be performed by ACO.Writing for the symphony orchestra remains one of the supreme challenges for the aspiring composer. The subtleties of instrumental balance, timbre, effective part preparation, and communication with conductor and musicians are critical skills. But openings for composers to gain hands-on experience working with a professional orchestra are few. ACO's New Music Reading Sessions are designed to give emerging composers the opportunity to work with an orchestra singular in its commitment to the development of the American composer and to hear their work performed by some of the country's most outstanding contemporary music instrumentalists.Led by ACO Artistic Director Robert Beaser, the Readings are the core of ACO's ongoing professional training programs for emerging American composers.At the Readings, composers will meet with ACO artistic staff, orchestra members, and composer advisors and receive critical commentary and feedback. Members of ACO's composer advisory panel and guest composers participate in preliminary reviews of scores, post-Reading evaluations and selection of the composer to receive the commission award. The Reading are professionally recorded, and each composer a high-quality audio recording to be used for study purposes.ACO's related programs include an annual composer fellowship that allows a composer to work with ACO's artistic and administrative staffs over the course of a season; and Orchestra Tech, a multi-year project to explore the past, present and future applications of electronics and digital technologies in orchestral music. Through Orchestra Tech, works employing electronics and digital technology are now encouraged for the Readings.Lead support for the New Music Readings comes from Mr. Paul Underwood, the Fromm Foundation and The Helen F. Whitaker Fund. ACO's emerging composers programs are made possible with the support of Jerome Foundation, and with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

American Composers Orchestra announces its 16th annual Underwood New Music Reading Sessions

Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
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May
2006
18
9:00 am

American Composers Orchestra announces its 15th annual Underwood New Music Readings Sessions and Commission. Up to eight composers in the early stages of their careers will be selected to participate. One will be awarded a $15,000 commission to write a new work to be performed by ACO at Carnegie Hall. The Readings are led by Artistic Director Robert Beaser and, and will be held on May 18 & 19, 2006 in New York City. Composers Paul Moravec and Stephen Paulus will serve as composer-mentors.

American Composers Orchestra announces its 15th annual Underwood New Music Readings Sessions and Commission.

Miller Theater at Columbia University
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May
2005
5
9:30 am

American Composers Orchestra announces its 14th annual Underwood New Music Readings Sessions and Commission. Up to eight composers in the early stages of their careers will be selected to participate. One will be awarded a $15,000 commission to write a new work to be performed by ACO at Carnegie Hall. The Readings are led by Artistic Director Robert Beaser and Music Director Steven Sloane, and will be held on May 5-6, 2005 at Columbia University. The application deadline is November 10, 2004. The submission form, guidelines, and additional information is available at www.americancomposers.org/nmr or by calling ACO at 212 977 8495 x202/readings@americancomposers.org.

American Composers Orchestra announces its 14th annual Underwood New Music Readings Sessions and CommissionAmerican Composers Orchestra announces its 14th annual Underwood New Music Readings Sessions and Commission.

Alfred Lerner Hall at Columbia University
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June 13–14, 2024

EarShot Readings: American Composers Orchestra

Neidorff-Karpati Hall, Manhattan School of Music

New York City, NY


Ensemble:

American Composers Orchestra


Mentor Composers:

Marcos Balter

Niloufar Nourbakhsh

Curtis Stewart


Conductor:

Delta David Gier


Featured Artists and Works:

Anuj Bhutani, After the Freeze

Malachi Brown, Statements- a journal entry

Eunsung Kim, Kaleidoscope

Madeline Merwin, Dirty Ice

Sofía Scheps, Demografía acústica: % / Acoustic Demography: %

Samuel Torres, Frailejón



June 13–14, 2024

EarShot Readings: American Composers Orchestra

Neidorff-Karpati Hall, Manhattan School of Music

New York City, NY


Ensemble:

American Composers Orchestra


Mentor Composers:

Marcos Balter

Niloufar Nourbakhsh

Curtis Stewart


Conductor:

Delta David Gier


Featured Artists and Works:

Anuj Bhutani, After the Freeze

Malachi Brown, Statements- a journal entry

Eunsung Kim, Kaleidoscope

Madeline Merwin, Dirty Ice

Sofía Scheps, Demografía acústica: % / Acoustic Demography: %

Samuel Torres, Frailejón


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The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout is a musical quest —powered by possibility—that will have you singing, dancing, and shouting. After a sold-out show in Harlem’s world famous Apollo,  described as “Uniting art & social justice” by Playbill Magazine, the concert is launching its inaugural performance in Washington D.C at The Kennedy Center. 


A genre-bending concert with visionary artists, Nona Hendryx, Abby Dobson, Joel Thompson, Carlos Simon, Courtney Bryan, Troy Anthony, Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely with Special Guest, Maleek Washington, The Gathering features 80 members of the American Composers Orchestra conducted by Chelsea Tipton, II  and 48 members of NEWorks Voices of Inspiration chorale under the leadership of Nolan Williams, Jr.  


With creative concept and direction by National Black Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director, Jonathan McCrory, and produced by National Black Theatre and The Apollo, The Gathering” stands as the highlight of The Kennedy Center’s week-long celebration showcasing the convergence of orchestral, choral, gospel, and soul music. Guided by the poetic eloquence of Mahogany L. Browne, this American musical treasure is a modern tribute to the power of art as a vehicle for liberation, social justice, and a drum beat summoning the power of possibility. 

American Sign Language Artistic Interpretation and support provided by ASL Artist - Brandon Kazen-Maddox of Body Language Productions & Co-Founder of Up Until Now Collective.

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Mentor composers:

Chen Yi

Anthony Cheung

Melinda Wagner


Conductor:

Jeffery Meyer


Featured Artists and Works:

Ted Babcock, Pulse, Echo

Daniel Cui, Twelve Seconds

Hansol Choi, 3° (“삼도/Sam-do”)

Pablo M. Teutli, Astros y cuetes

Mentor composers:

Chen Yi

Anthony Cheung

Melinda Wagner


Conductor:

Jeffery Meyer


Featured Artists and Works:

Ted Babcock, Pulse, Echo

Daniel Cui, Twelve Seconds

Hansol Choi, 3° (“삼도/Sam-do”)

Pablo M. Teutli, Astros y cuetes

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CSO Assistant Conductors Samuel Lee and Daniel Wiley will conduct the CSO in a performance featuring composers of EarShot, the nation’s first ongoing, systematic program for creating relationships between orchestras and composers. EarShot is operated in partnership with the American Composers Forum, New Music USA, and the League of American Orchestras. The composers will be mentored by CSO Music Director Louis Langrée.

CSO Assistant Conductors Samuel Lee and Daniel Wiley will conduct the CSO in a performance featuring composers of EarShot, the nation’s first ongoing, systematic program for creating relationships between orchestras and composers. EarShot is operated in partnership with the American Composers Forum, New Music USA, and the League of American Orchestras. The composers will be mentored by CSO Music Director Louis Langrée.


Mentor composers include Texu Kim, Curtis Stewart, and Melinda Wagner.

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The ACO partners with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra for a two part New Music readings with esteemed American composers. Composers not only get the opportunity to hear their works performed by a live orchestra, but they will revise their works for a second reading after two months.
2014 Berkeley EarShot Production Sched_Feb.docx (https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v1/19/19/1690912800000/PhWOxWh049LWU8gAx7DH0Q/Lz2i83zoKpxCW-VbKVodTjE_9KTu0c4n8nVfE2ZfPQrrxX4_u9zzFl4I-RbpS6AK4RRMFNWhr0E-iVYO8WjjD-7HoykuIQllKpJggJcdP6L3qFBEspGkbmn4VaEKCXyFnAvfAXfzh85vZbH7LgJDCw/NpaCBt3RGBWWYKOmCeSBM6TlFTPaHD7zNNvIVVQ_frA)
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SONiC teams up with Luna Composition Lab and International Contemporary Ensemble to present a concert of brand new works by the 2022–23 Luna Lab Fellows. Founded in 2016 by composers Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid, Luna Composition Lab provides mentorship and performance opportunities to young composers ages 13–18 who are female, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming. Missy Mazzoli, Ellen Reid, and George Lewis curate this evening of world premieres as well as additional works by Luna Lab mentors.
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