Alma Deutscher – b. 2005, Britain
Already an accomplished violinist and pianist, Alma has recently composed a short opera, her largest composition to date. She composed her first sonata in 2012 at the age of six, and has gained worldwide media attention for her talent at such a young age.
Kathryn Salfelder – b. 1987, New Jersey
Currently a DMA student at New England College, Kathryn has won the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and the ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennell Prize. She has gained worldwide recognition for her works for wind ensemble and has been commissioned by the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C. Her works have been performed by the likes of the New England Philharmonic and by over one hundred ensembles at the nation’s leading music schools and conservatories.
Timo Andres – b. 1985, California
Timo’s works have been commissioned by renowned institutions such as Wigmore Hall, the Library of Congress, Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Also an accomplished concert pianist, Timo has performed solo recitals at these venues as well. The Yale graduate and current Brooklyn resident has received awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, BMI, and ASCAP.
Caroline Shaw – b. 1982, North Carolina
In 2013 Caroline became the most recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, becoming the youngest person in history to receive the honor. She’s studied at Rice University and Yale, and is currently a doctoral fellow at Princeton. She is also a violinist with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) and a vocalist with Roomful of Teeth.
Charlotte Bray – b. 1982, Britain
A graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, Charlotte has recently been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Compositional Prize and the Lili Boulanger Prize. She’s studied with the likes of John Harbison and has a repertoire ranging from chamber music to opera. She has also been commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Proms, and the Verbier Festival.
Hannah Lash – b. 1981, New York
Currently on faculty at the Yale School of Music, Hannah has previously received the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, a Charles Ives Scholarship, and the Naumburg Prize for her compositions. Her pieces have been performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Tanglewood Music Center, Harvard University and the Chicago Art Institute.
Michael van der Aa – b. 1970, Netherlands
Among the most accomplished composers on our list, Michael has been described by The Guardian as “One of the most distinctive of the younger composers in Europe today.” He was the first Dutch composer to win the International Gaudeamus prize, a prestigious European composer’s award. He has since become a regular composer with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and his pieces have been premiered by orchestras and chamber ensembles all over the world, such as the Tokyo Sinfonietta and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Nico Muhly – b. 1981, Vermont
While working towards his Master’s degree at Juilliard, Muhly worked for six years as Philip Glass’s editor. He was commissioned to write his first full-scale opera by the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Theater and the English National Opera. This work, Two Boys, was premiered in 2011 to critical acclaim. The acclaimed composer has also composed for chamber ensembles and choir. Recently, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Decca released an entire disc of Muhly’s choral music, A Good Understanding.
Nina C. Young – b. 1984, New York
Currently a doctoral candidate at Columbia University, Nina has recently received the Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She has also been awarded fellowship opportunities at institutions such as the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival. Aside from composing, Nina is also the General Manager for APNM, the Association for the Promotion of New Music.
Ellis Ludwig-Leone – b. 1990, New York
During his time at Yale University, Ellis founded the contemporary chamber ensemble SIC InC. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Beekman Cannon Friends of Music Prize and worked as a musical assistant to Nico Muhly. He has written music for chamber ensembles all around the world and has received residencies at institutions such as the Banff Centre for the Arts.