Interviews

"Augusta Read Thomas has secured for herself a permanent place in the pantheon of American composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. She is without question one of the best and most important composers that this country has today. Her music has substance and depth and a sense of purpose. She has a lot to say and she knows how to say it — and say it in a way that is intelligent yet appealing and sophisticated yet extremely accessible." — Edward Reichel, Reichel Recommends: The Arts in Utah and Beyond

David Lake presents a feature interview with Augusta on Contemporary Classics, WRUU Savannah, Georgia

The Cultured Mind: A Conversation with Augusta Read Thomas

WGTE Public Media: Gusty Speaks Again
Pulitzer finalist and Grammy winning composer Augusta Read Thomas (a.k.a. "Gusty") returns to share more personal stories and to introduce her music.

WGTE Public Media: Gusty Speaks
Two-time Composer in Residence for the BGSU New Music Festival, Augusta Read Thomas (a.k.a. "Gusty") joins us to introduce her work.

MSO - Conversations with Composers: Augusta Read Thomas
Augusta Read Thomas shares insights into RADIANT CIRCLES in our latest Conversations with Composers segment.

The Samuel Andreyev Podcast
Augusta Read Thomas, composer

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more

Podcast: The Talking Cure - Conversations with Jed Wheeler
EP4: The Auditions | Augusta Read Thomas

Big Brains Podcast: Augusta Read Thomas
Big Brains is a new University of Chicago podcast in which some of the pioneering minds from across UChicago discuss their groundbreaking ideas and the stories behind them. This 30 minute long program features Paul M. Rand interviewing the composer, offering a glimpse into the creative process of a world-class composer, the state of classical music today and how Augusta helps train the next generation of composers.

Made in Chicago: Original Sound, Original Voice
from NewMusicBox made for Ear Taxi Festival

Augusta Read Thomas interviews Philip Glass

Boston Symphony Orchestra Interview
An interview with composer Augusta Read Thomas. Her new work, "Helios Choros II (Sun God Dancers)" is performed at Symphony Hall, October 15-20, led by Former BSO assistant conductor Ludovic Morlot. Thomas was composer in- residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for many years and also has strong ties to the BSO and Tanglewood. Helios Choros II, the central panel of an orchestral triptych, was co-commissioned by the BSO and the London Symphony Orchestra; the LSO gave the premiere in December 2008.

Part I

Part II

"According to statistics released last year by ASCAP, a performing rights organization, Ms. Thomas topped their list of most frequently performed living composers in 2013-14." — Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times

"a true virtuoso composer"
— The New Yorker, October 2012

Augusta Read Thomas on the cover of NewMusicBox
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. It can be read and viewed here:
"Augusta Read Thomas: Perfect Clarity"
In conversation with Molly Sheridan at the American Academy of Arts and Letters. New York, New York (May 18, 2010—3:00 p.m.)

WFMT Composer Spotlight: Augusta Read Thomas
Click the player link below to listen to an April 11, 2015 interview with Augusta Read Thomas on WFMT (Chicago). The hour-long program features Seth Boustead interviewing the composer, as well as excerpts from several of her compositions.

"Of Paradise and Light" : Composer and Her Work

Interview made by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois 2014

start at 29’44” and ends at the end of the video

Augusta Read Thomas - A Composer with a Poet's Sensibility

Conductor Keitaro Harada interviews Augusta Read Thomas for MUSIC TODAY

IIRY Podcast: 27. Augusta Read Thomas: “Music is so much bigger.”

Augusta Read Thomas interview as Featured Composer, 41st Festival, Bowling Green State University

Interview about "Resounding Earth” presented by Debartolo Performing Arts Center

David Hoose hosts Augusta in The Composer Speaks presented by Collage New Music

Talks

CCCC: Inspiring and Supporting the Next Generation of Composers

Augusta Read Thomas talks about composition

Augusta Read Thomas's acceptance speech for the Order of Lincoln Award.

Utah Symphony World Premiere: EOS Goddess of the Dawn (A Ballet for Orchestra) by Augusta Read Thomas. Thierry Fischer, Music Director/Utah Symphony Orchestra

CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Aaron Helgeson: the 2017/2018 postdoctoral fellow

SWEET POTATO KICKS THE SUN
Nicole Paris, Leslie Dunton-Downer, Augusta Read Thomas.

Who's Ready for October 26th?
October 26th is quickly approaching! Sweet Potato Kicks The Sun!

Beatboxer Finds New Sound in Opera by Chicago Composer

MSO Musical Journeys: Maestro Ken-David Masur interviews special guest Augusta Read Thomas

Augusta Read Thomas talks in 2017 about composition, the University of Chicago, her hand-drawn maps of the form of her works, and about creative life in general.

Music Video

"The periodic accumulation of sustained clouds of dissonance made for one of the most powerful new music experiences I've felt in years." — Chicago Classical Review

Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra performs Star Box

Absolute Ocean performed by "The President's Own" United States Marine Chamber Orchestra conducted by 1st Lt. Darren Y Lin, with SSgt Hannah Davis soprano soloist.

Augusta Read Thomas: Dance Mobile — In memoriam Oliver Knussen
Members of the Grossman Ensemble and guest artists; Stefan Asbury, conductor

Augusta Read Thomas: Dance Mobile — In memoriam Oliver Knussen
World Premiere. Eastman Musica Nova Ensemble

Augusta Read Thomas: Alleluia (Midsummer Blaze) for chorus
University of Louisville Cardinal Singers, Kentucky, sung from memory.

Augusta Read Thomas: Sun Threads
The Argus Quartet

Augusta Read Thomas: Chi for string quartet (four movements)
The Argus Quartet

Augusta Read Thomas: Six Etudes
Mari Kawamura, piano

Augusta Read Thomas: Euterpe
Eftihia Arkoudis, flute, as Muse Euterpe Alexander Merandi as God Apollo
Choreography by Eftihia Arkoudis

Hemke Concerto - "Prisms of Light" (wind ensemble version)

Curtis 2021 Ensemble - Augusta Read Thomas: Capricci (Hummingbird Romance) Calvin Mayman, flute; Yan Liu, clarinet

Curtis 2021 Ensemble - Augusta Read Thomas: Mansueto Tribute (Double Helix) Emily Shehi, violin; Erika Gray, viola

Curtis 2021 Ensemble - Augusta Read Thomas: Scat, Calvin Mayman, flute; Yan Liu, clarinet; Karisa Chiu, violin; Andres Sanchez, cello; Zach Hoi Leong Cheong, piano

Curtis 2021 Ensemble - Augusta Read Thomas: Loci: Memory Palace from Helix Spirals, Claire Bourg, violin; Takumi Taguchi, violin; Grace Takeda, viola; John Lee, cello

Curtis 2021 Ensemble - Augusta Read Thomas: Triple Marionette, from Klee Musings, Karisa Chiu, violin; Andres Sanchez, cello; Michael Davidman, piano

Curtis 2021 Ensemble - Augusta Read Thomas: Plea for Peace, Sophia Hunt, soprano; Claire Bourg, violin; Takumi Taguchi, violin; Grace Takeda, viola; John Lee, cello

Curtis 2021 Ensemble - Augusta Read Thomas: Selene: Moon Chariot Rituals, Vera Quartet; Zubin Hathi, Sijia Huang, Yoonseo Kang, Hanna Kim, percussion; Don Liuzzi, conductor

Ripple Effects Joey Brink, Frans Haagen, Ellen Dickinson, Tiffany Ng, Elsa Mundt, Xibai (Sylvia) Wang, Joshua Kaufman, Michael Sloyan, Shu Zhang, John Tienken, Vera Wünsche Brink, and others

Makiko Hirata performs TRACES for solo piano at Duncan Recital Hall, Shepherd School of Music.

Etude IV. On Twilight–Homage to Pierre Boulez.
Noah Sonderling, Piano

Civitas Ensemble - Dancing Helix Rituals

Fanfare of Hope and Solidarity - WORLD PREMIERE.
Thierry Fischer, conductor; Utah Symphony

Plea for Peace, transcribed for alto flute. Jennie Oh Brown, alto flute; Elizabeth Brausa Brathwaite, violin; Kate Carter, violin; Dominic Johnson, viola; Paula Kosower, cello

Silhouettes for solo marimba movement II - Like
Igor Strawinsky crossed with Thelonious Monk. Performed by Ruud Roelofsen.

Ken-David Masur conducts the world premiere of CLARA’S ASCENT with the Chelsea Music Festival String Orchestra, 2020.

Third Coast Percussion performs world premiere of Con Moto at the Bowling Green State University New Music Festival, 2020

Aero Saxophone Quartet performs Squeeze from memory

Of Paradise and Light performed by the All-Star Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Schwarz

Carillon Sky 2nd violin concerto, Mei-Fang Wang violin solo, University of Illinois New Music Ensemble, conducted by Stephen Taylor

THE RUB OF LOVE for choir, performed by CONSONO in Köln, Germany, performed by Harald Jers

Pulsar for solo violin played by Jason Vassiliou

Magneticfireflies for band performed by students of the Hodgson Wind Ensemble conducted by Matthew Sadowski

World Premiere of Song Without Words for oboe & piano performed by Jared Hauser and Caleb Harris

Love Twitters, Cole Burger, piano

Piano Etudes 1 & 2, Yuefeng Liu, piano

Piano Etudes 3 & 4, Ariel Magno da Costa, piano

Piano Etudes 5 & 6, Steven Naylor, piano

Bell Illuminations for solo piano. World Premiere by Daniel Pesca.

Six Piano Etudes performed by Gianne Ge Zhu

Traces for solo piano performed by Gianne Ge Zhu

Performance of QI by Third Coast Percussion

VIDEO STARTS at 1:29:30: The Helix Trio performs A CIRCLE AROUND THE SUN for piano trio

John Corkill performs from memory BEBOP RIDDLE for solo marimba

John Corkill performs ENCHANTED INVOCATION for vibraphone and 5 crotales

Clare Longendyke performs Love Twitters for solo piano

CRESCAT SCIENTIA; VITA EXCOLATUR, for carillon - live world premiere

CRESCAT SCIENTIA; VITA EXCOLATUR - LIVE Inside the Bell Tower’s Carillon Playing Chamber

With score - Two Thoughts About The Piano for solo piano performed by Daniel Pesca

Chris Gross playing Rainbow Bridge to Paradise composed for for young cellists.

Ella Wimbiscus (age 11) plays Incantation for solo cello

Eastman Saxophone Project - Chien-Kwan Lin, Director performs RINGS OF LIGHT from memory.

All-Star Orchestra Plea for Peace

Daniel Linder plays live concert of BELL ILLUMINATIONS for solo piano

PERFECT CLARITY: In conversation with Molly Sheridan

The Grossman Ensemble, conducted by Timothy Weiss - world premiere of Terpsichore's Box of Dreams

Documentary about Resounding Earth

Third Coast Percussion performs I. INVOCATION - Pulse Radiance

Third Coast Percussion performs II. PRAYER - Star Dust Orbits

Third Coast Percussion performs III. MANTRA- Ceremonial Time Shapes

Third Coast Percussion performs IV. REVERIE CARILLON- Crystal Lattice

Violin Concerto #3: Juggler in Paradise [w/ score]

CARNIVAL, concerto for bassoon performed by University of Illinois Wind Symphony. Ben Roidl-Ward, bassoon

Caprice for Solo Violin performed by Emma Frucht presented by New York Classical Players

Zarin Mehta performs “Amalgam, Mvt. 1 Invocation”

Zarin Mehta performs “Amalgam, Mvt. 2. Fusion”

Andy Hudson performs D(i)agon(als) for solo clarinet by Augusta Read Thomas