Curtis Composers
The third concert of the Curtis Presents season builds upon the school’s longstanding tradition of innovation, inspiration, and artistic excellence as it celebrates eight of its distinguished composition alumni. As Curtis looks to its centenary in 2024, this retrospective program highlights iconic Curtis composers George Walker (’45), Jennifer Higdon (’88), Leonard Bernstein (Conducting ’41), David Serkin Ludwig (’01), Samuel Barber (’34), Ned Rorem (’44), Julius Eastman (’63), and recently appointed composition faculty member, Jonathan Bailey Holland (’96), in an evening of boundary-pushing chamber works and early-career classics that shaped the landscape of contemporary classical music.
Program
| HIGDON | Autumn Music, for wind quintet |
|---|---|
| BERNSTEIN | Sonata for Clarinet and Piano |
| LUDWIG | Three Pictures from the Floating World, for bassoon and string trio |
| BARBER | Canzone (Elegy), for flute and piano |
| ROREM | Mountain Song for fl, ob, vln, or vc and pno |
| EASTMAN | Piano Pieces I-IV |
| BAILEY HOLLAND | Introit, for brass quintet |
Artists
-
Composer Jonathan Bailey Holland has been referred to as “a craftsman with an ear for effective orchestration, a fine theatrical sense and real skill when it comes to formal layout” (Indianapolis Star), and his music has been heralded as “a sunburst of gleaming timbres, the full ensemble resounding in lustrous textures” (South Florida Classical Review). His works have been commissioned and performed by many of today’s leading ensembles including the New World Symphony, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Eighth Blackbird, Odyssey Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Network for New Music, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, Emmanuel Music, Plymouth Music Series, and many more.
Dr. Holland earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Ned Rorem. Previous affiliations include Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee College of Music, and Vermont College of Fine Arts. He also serves as the dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University.
Dr. Holland joined the faculty in 2022.
Curtis Presents
Past and future meet through Curtis Presents, which features a diverse collection of artists—alumni, faculty, students, and contemporary creators—whose musical foundations are rooted in the Curtis community. This series of intimate and innovative recitals offers a unique experience with exceptional artistry and one-of-a-kind programs.