Augusta Read Thomas - Composer
"The reason I compose music is to express gratitude."

Augusta Read Thomas

 
  • MAY 19-22, 2022: BRIO for orchestra performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Karina Canellakis conducting.
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  • APRIL 10, 2022: Asian Premiere of DANCE MOBILE for chamber orchestra presented by the Cosmopolis Festival for the inaugural season of the new concert hall, the Shaw Auditorium, performed by members of the Hong Kong Philharmonic.
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  • AUGUST 6, 2022: World Premiere of BEBOP RIDDLE II for cello and piano, performed by cellist Norman Fischer and pianist Bethany Pietroniro at the Tanglewood Music Center Festival of Contemporary Music, Ozawa Hall. Dedicated with admiration and gratitude to Ellen Highstein to honor her longstanding leadership of the Tanglewood Music Center.
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  • FEBRUARY 17 & 18, 2023: World Premiere of SUN DANCE for orchestra in Memoriam Oliver Knussen commissioned by the Indianapolis Symphony, conducted by Christian Reif.
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  • JANUARY 13-16, 2022: USA Premiere of DANCE FOLDINGS for orchestra performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, conducting.
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  • AUGUST 21, 2022: World Premiere of cello version of DREAM CATCHER In Memoriam Oliver Knussen for solo cello performed by cellist Anssi Karttunen at the Creative Dialogue France Workshop.
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  • MAY 2, 2021: World Premiere of MAGIC GARDENS for string quartet performed by Rolston String Quartet at the Perelman Theatre in the Kimmel Center during the celebrations of Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia’s 200th anniversary.
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  • MARCH 16, 2024: World Premiere of GWENDOLYN BROOKS SETTINGS for Treble Chorus and Orchestra. Text by Gwendolyn Brooks. World premiere by Anima – Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Stilian Kirov, conducting, Charles Sundquist, Chorus, Director. This commission and associated activities are partially supported by a 2019 grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Illinois Humanities.
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  • TheArtsDesk: Classical CDs Weekly: US Election Special, (2020)
    "This is witty, inventive and colourful music. It’s fabulous, and unlike anything I’ve heard all year."
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  • MARCH 22, 2021: World Premiere of FAR PAST WAR for large chorus and orchestra commissioned and premiered by the Cathedral Choral Society of Washington, D.C., conducted by Steven Fox in the Washington National Cathedral.
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  • NOVEMBER 8, 2020: THE AUDITIONS broadcast on WNET’s HD ALL ARTS television series. The ballet was commissioned by PEAK Performances at Montclair State University in New Jersey, Jedediah Wheeler, Executive Director.
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  • JANUARY 15, 2023: UK Premiere of MAGIC GARDENS for string quartet performed by Rolston String Quartet at Wigmore Hall, London, England.
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  • June 26-30, 2019: World Premiere of MAGIC BOX commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (Andris Nelsons, Music Director) to celebrate the opening of it’s Tanglewood Center for Music and Learning in late June 2019.
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  • Strings Magazine: Feature Article: "Enter The Limitless Sound World of Augusta Read Thomas”
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  • [Chicago Tribune] Mega-festival of new music celebrates living Chicago composers, performers
    "Only Chicago has Augusta Read Thomas”
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  • H.S.H. the Prince Albert II honors Augusta with the Cultural Medal of Monaco. The Sovereign Prince of Monaco awarded Augusta CHEVALIER of the Order of Cultural Merit. The insignia of this distinction was given by S.A.R. Princess of Hanover at the Prince's Palace on 18 November 2015.
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  • [Boston Symphony Orchestra interview] An interview with composer Augusta Read Thomas. Her new ballet, "Helios Choros II (Sun God Dancers)" is performed at Symphony Hall, October 15-20, led by Former BSO assistant conductor Ludovic Morlot.
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  • [American Music Center's NewMusicBox interview] Augusta Read Thomas graces the cover of American Music Center's web magazine, NewMusicBox. The article, entitled "Perfect Clarity," features an interview with the composer and Molly Sheridan at the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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  • 'Of Being is a Bird' CD awarded BBC Music Magazine 'Chamber Choice' In the July issue of BBC Music Magazine, it received the 'Chamber Choice' award with Anthony Burton awarding the recording five stars...
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  • OCTOBER 28, 2022: World Premiere of NEW WORK for S.A.T.B. chorus commissioned by Donald Nally and the Bienen School of music at Northwestern University. The composition will be related in some way to William Byrd, as it will be performed on a Byrd Festival celebrating the 400th anniversary of the composer's death.
  • APRIL 28 & 29, 2023: World Premiere of TOWARD A SECRET SKY, Poems on Love by Rūmī for light lyric soprano, SATB chorus and orchestra. Commissioned and premiered by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Dr. Eric Stark, Artistic Director who will be conducting the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis on Monument Circle.
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  • MAY 4-7, 2023: Prayer Bells, for orchestra. Performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Trevino at two locations: Music Center at Strathmore, Bethesda, MD, and Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Baltimore, MD
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