Composer/Orchestra Matchup Winners Include CIM Alumni

The League of American Orchestras and New Music USA recently announced the winners of the Music Alive: New Partnerships Residencies which include Cleveland Institute of Music alumni Dan Visconti and Rick Robinson. The twelve composers chosen (out of a pool of 219 applicants) will receive a $7,500 grant and will be matched with an orchestra of the committee’s choosing to work on an original piece from the composer. The piece will be performed by the orchestra at the end of the week-long residency.

Visconti and Robinson will both be heading south to complete their residencies; Visconti with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Robinson with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. When selecting the composer/orchestra partnerships, the committee made sure both had never worked with one another previously. In addition to the end-of-week performances, the orchestras will hold various community events to reach new audiences while showcasing this unique project.

Robinson has been a section bassist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 1989 and also arranges, composes and conducts. He is the founder of CutTime, an artistic initiative to gain new audiences and expand the reach of classical music. Visconti is a member of a Chicago-based group, Fifth House Ensemble, which also aims to reach new audiences with various forms of community engagement. He is a composer-in-residence at the Fresh Inc. Festival, where he helps young musicians build successful musical careers.

Music Alive has been supporting composer/orchestra collaborations for 14 years, offering residencies that range from weeks to years and providing resources and support to orchestras throughout the country for new music opportunities and audience diversification.

Click here for the full list of the 2014 composer/orchestra partnerships.