Composers & the Voice : PARTNERSHIPS
AOP has formed partnerships with several organizations and programs to offer further opportunities to alumni of Composers & the Voice.
2019 Composer-in-Residence Gilda Lyons at the Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY
CHAUTAUQUA OPERA COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
In July/August 2016, American Opera Projects and Chautauqua Opera launched a multi-year Composer-in-Residence initiative. Each summer one alumni of AOP's Composers & the Voice Fellowship will be invited to be in residence for Chautauqua Opera's entire 8-week season. The Composer-in-Residence will be a prominent public face for the Chautauqua Opera, speaking passionately about the company's season, and exploring the role of a composer in today's society.
AOP will commission three pieces from the Composer-in-Residence– 2 for voice and piano, and 1 for voice and orchestra– which will be premiered during Chautauqua Opera's season, by members of its Young Artist Program, and then be presented in AOP's subsequent New York City season. With texts drawn from and inspired by lecturers and speakers at the Chautauqua Institution, these new works will first appear on the "Artsongs in the Afternoon" recital series and the Opera Highlights concert with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
“When an audience knows the creator, they become immediately invested in his or her creations,” Steven Osgood said. “This is the kind of relationship I see being forged throughout the opera community nationwide, and I look forward to sharing it with CHQ.”
2022 Composer-in-Residence: Mary Prescott
2021 Composer-in-Residence: Frances Pollock
2020 Composer-in-Residence: Frances Pollock
2019 Composer-in-Residence: Gilda Lyons
2018 Composer-in-Residence: George Lam
2017 Composer-in-Residence: Gity Razaz
2016 Composer-in-Residence: Jeremy Gill
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC: FROM PAGE TO STAGE
Almost from the beginning of Composers & the Voice’s creation, C&V has had a relationship with the Manhattan School of Music's Opera Theatre department. From 2004-2020, operas created in the C&V program were selected by MSM for further development as part of their annual New American Opera Previews: From Page to Stage series, which featured staged excerpts of new operas in development performed by MSM vocal students. In 2021, that collaboration transformed to staged excerpts performed by students in the Contemporary Opera Ensemble. Both forums have created vital opportunities for young artists to perform in the developing scenes and to work with new writers and composers, providing a natural bridge from academic training to the professional stage.
2021: “Trio” from Protectress - Jessica Rudman, composer; Kendra Preston Leonard, librettist
2020 and 2019: The Interaction Effect - Pamela Stein Lynde, composer; Laura Barati, librettist photos
2017: Vera - Matthew Barnson, composer; Mark Sonnenblick, librettist photos
2015: Legendary - Joseph Rubinstein, composer; Jason Kim, librettist photos
2014: Companionship - Rachel Peters, composer/librettist photos
2013: Decoration - Mikael Karlsson, composer/librettist; David Flodén, librettist photos
2011: Henry’s Wife - Randall Eng, composer; Alexis Bernier, librettist photos
2010: Paul’s Case - Gregory Spears, composer; Kathryn Walat, librettist photos
2009: Love/Hate - Jack Perla, composer; Rob Bailis, librettist
2008: Death in Summer - Gregg Wramage, composer/librettist
2007: The Summer King - Daniel Sonenberg, composer; Daniel Nestor, librettist
2006: The Golden Gate - Conrad Cummings, composer/librettist
2005: Dream President - Jennifer Griffith, composer/librettist
2004: Exiles - Renee Favand-See, composer
Opera Omaha Poetry & Music Project
Opera Omaha and Nebraska Writers Collective invite students in grades K-12 from Nebraska and Iowa to submit poems on themes of creativity, community, identity, and youth and offer writing workshops focused on writing for music, facilitated by Opera Omaha Holland Community Opera Fellows and NWC Teaching Artists.
In the second phase, two composers identified by AOP from the Composers & the Voice program select pieces to set to music from the poetry submissions. The selected poets will have the opportunity to participate with the composers in a music workshop to further develop the piece with the composers and musicians, participating in the behind-the-scenes process.
The completed works are performed in concert in the spring by Opera Omaha’s Holland Community Artist Fellows as vocalists and local musicians. The concert is free and open to the public with the poets and their families in attendance.
Composers are contracted by Opera Omaha and paid an honorarium. Travel to Omaha for Music Workshops and the Concert are provided.
2023 Composers: Gabrielle Herbst and J.E. Hernández
2022 Composer: Matt Browne
2021 Composers: Frances Pollock & Matt Browne
2020 Composers: Frances Pollock & Matt Browne