Monica Houghton

Composition, Theory, was born in Vermont and grew up in Reno, Nevada. She received A.B. and A.M. degrees from Harvard University in Chinese and East Asian Studies, and more recently an M.M. in Composition from CIM. Ms. Houghton has been the recipient of awards from ASCAP, the American Music Center, the Ohio Arts Council, the Ohio Music Teachers Association, the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs, ASCAP/SCI and CIM. Her works have been programmed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Contemporary Youth Orchestra, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, CIM Orchestra, University Circle Wind Ensemble, CIM Opera Theater, Oberlin Opera Theater, on concerts of the Cleveland Composers Guild, Tuesday Musical Club of Akron, International Alliance for Women in Music, Ernest Bloch Festival, AKI Festival of New Music, Oregon Bach Festival, Virginia Arts Festival and Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, and by individual artists both here and around the world. Ms. Houghton was recently named Composer of the Year for 2007 by the Ohio Music Teachers Association and will receive an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for 2007. Recent commissions include solo works for piano, organ, viola, and guitar; a duo for Vietnamese dan tranh (zither) and shao (bamboo flute); and a trio for The Cleveland Duo and James Umble. Her organ piece Erebus has been recorded on AZICA. Ms. Houghton has also written an opera, The Big Bonanza, based on historical events of the American West. She was appointed to the CIM faculty in 2003.

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