FEBRUARY 18 - MARCH 9, 2008

Application Deadline: October 19, 2007

AUGUSTA READ THOMAS, composer

Augusta Read Thomas (born 1964, New York), was Composer-in-Residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1997-2006) and, until 2008, Chair of the Board of the American Music Center, on which she has served for the past five years. In September 2006, Thomas resigned from her position as the Wyatt Professor of Music at Northwestern University to devote her time exclusively to composition. At the age of 33, she received tenure from the Eastman School. Her work is exclusively published by G. Schirmer Inc. She studied at Northwestern University, Yale University and at the Royal Academy of Music. Seven years after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, she was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM, honorary degree). In 1998, she received the Distinguished Alumni Association Award from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. In 1999, she received the Award of Merit from the President of Northwestern University.

Upcoming projects include Helios Choros a triptych for orchestra (2006-2007) (title translation: Sun God Dancers) with a duration of 35-40 minutes. Helios Choros I, commissioned by the Dallas Symphony, was composed in 2006, and will be premiered on May 3, 2007 by the Dallas Symphony, Sir Andrew Davis conducting; Helios Choros II, co-commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra, was composed in 2007. LSO premiere will be in December 2008, Daniel Harding conducting, BSO premiere date TBD. Helios Choros III, commissioned by the Orchestra of Paris, was composed in 2007. It will be premiered on December 12, 2007 in Paris. On January 16, 2009, NEW WORK, a violin concerto, co-commissioned by Festival Présences with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the BBC Proms, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brown with Frank-Peter Zimmermann, violin soloist, in Salle Pleyel, Paris, with Kazuchi Ono, conducting; NEW WORK for orchestra commissioned by the Juilliard School which will premiere in Fall 2009; and a new quintet for oboe, string trio, and harpsichord has been co-commissioned for the Walden Chamber Players by 20th Century Unlimited and Eleanor Eisenmenger, which will premiere in Fall 2007.

Premieres that took place during the 2005-2006 season included two new concerti for the Chicago Symphony: Astral Canticle for violin, flute and orchestra featuring the principal players Robert Chen and Matthieu DuFour; and Carillon Sky for violin and large ensemble. Other new works are Shakin' for orchestra (a tribute to Elvis Presley and Igor Stravinsky), commissioned by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Music Library Association in honor of its 75th Anniversary; The Rewaking for male chorus commissioned by Cornell University Glee Club; Berkshire Songs for chorus commissioned by the Nebraska Choral Arts Society; and Angel Tears and Earth Prayers for organ and trumpet commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for their national convention. Two new solo piano etudes join the existing four, and the full set is first presented by Stephen Gosling in New York City.

Thomas studied with Jacob Druckman at Yale University, and with Alan Stout and Bill Karlins at Northwestern University. She was formerly an ACA Associate Artist-in-Residence in the late ‘80s, and Master Artist-in-Residence in 1996.

* For more information on August Read Thomas, please visit www.augustareadthomas.com
* For sounds samples of Augsut Read Thomas' compositions please visit http://idisk.mac.com/augustareadthomas-Public

RESIDENCY STATEMENT

I look forward to working with a group of Associate Artists who compose in any medium or style, to see what I can learn from them, and to see what we can contribute to each other’s ideas. I will be joined for the duration of the residency by my husband, composer Bernard Rands, who will also be available for consultation and discussion.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should submit a resume, a short biography with a list of compositions and their premiere performances, two CDs with representative examples of their music, and corresponding scores, when applicable.