Curtis Composers in Concert

Jeffrey Milarsky is a highly sought-after podium figure in the world of orchestral, opera, and chamber music.  He has been hailed as a pre-eminent interpreter of contemporary music. A creative and adventurous programmer, his passionate advocacy for living composers has made him a frequent musical collaborator with orchestras in America and abroad.

In recent seasons he works regularly with ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, MET Chamber Ensemble, Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New World Symphony, and Tanglewood Festival Orchestra. In the U.S. and abroad he has premiered and recorded works by many groundbreaking contemporary composers in Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and at IRCAM in Paris.  Mr. Milarsky has a long history of premiering, recording, and performing American composers and throughout his career has collaborated with John Adams, Milton Babbitt, John Cage, Elliott Carter, John Corigliano, George Crumb, Mario Davidovsky, Jacob Druckman, Michael Gordon, David Lang, George Lewis, Steven Mackey, Steve Reich, Christopher Rouse, Ralph Shapey, Morton Subotnick, Charles Wuorinen, and an entire generation of young and developing composers. In 2013 he was awarded the Ditson Conductor’s Award for his commitment to the performance of American music.

In his role as an educator at Columbia University and at The Juilliard School, he has spent over twenty-five years supporting and cultivating young musicians and composers around the globe.

He serves as the Music Director of AXIOM and is on the conducting faculty at The Juilliard School.  Additionally, he is a Senior Lecturer in Music at Columbia University where he is the Music Director and conductor of the Columbia University Orchestra. A much-in-demand timpanist and percussionist, Milarsky has been the principal timpanist for the Santa Fe Opera since 2005. He has also performed and recorded with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Symphony. He has recorded extensively for Angel, Bridge, Teldec, Telarc, New World, CRI, MusicMasters, EMI, Koch, and London records.

Acclaimed for its “otherworldly ensemble and professional level of sophistication” (New York Times), the Curtis Symphony Orchestra offers a dynamic showcase of tomorrow’s exceptional young talent. Each year the 100 extraordinary musicians of the orchestra work with internationally renowned conductors, including Osmo Vänskä, Vladimir Jurowski, Marin Alsop, Simon Rattle, Robert Spano, and Yannick Nézet Séguin, who also mentors the early-career conductors who hold Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellowships. This professional training has enabled Curtis alumni to assume prominent positions in America’s leading orchestras, as well as esteemed orchestral, opera, and chamber ensembles around the world.