written by

Sasha Cooke

Mezzo-soprano
Lembit Beecher: And Then I Remember

Lembit Beecher: And Then I Remember

I thought talking about living composers not yet featured on NYFOS programs would be enough to minimize the list of people I’d love to include—nope! Not the case. So I will have to let it go for now and pick up the topic another time because without a doubt, there are...

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Laura Kaminsky:  As One

Laura Kaminsky: As One

This week I wanted to look at composers not yet featured on NYFOS programs who have exceptional ‘voices’ in the contemporary realm and more specifically, ones with a natural facility writing for the voice in particular. In Laura Kaminsky’s case, her entree into the...

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David Bruce:  Bring Me Again

David Bruce: Bring Me Again

Contemporary music is alive and well and as my father has remarked often, opera houses are commissioning a surprising amount of music—why is that? You’d think with limited budgets and a fluctuating economy that opera companies would do the tried and true stuff—avoid...

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Joby Talbot: Everest

Joby Talbot: Everest

It doesn’t always require a prolific song composer to write the best vocal music. Of course there are many that do! But I’ve been surprised to discover composers that just have that ‘thing.’ It’s almost like becoming an opera singer—many can ‘want’ to do it and learn...

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Caroline Shaw:  Partita for 8 Voices

Caroline Shaw: Partita for 8 Voices

Contemporary music is my favorite genre to perform. I recall the time I first had that feeling and even felt some pride in the epiphany. Being unique or different suddenly seemed empowering. I loved that audiences never knew what to expect, literally couldn’t arrive...

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