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Augusta Read Thomas (born April 24, 1964) is an American composer and professor.


Biography

Thomas studied composition with
Oliver Knussen Stuart Oliver Knussen (12 June 1952 – 8 July 2018) was a British composer and conductor. Early life Oliver Knussen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stuart Knussen, was principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, and a ...
at
Tanglewood Tanglewood is a music venue in the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. It has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. Tanglewood is also home to three music schools: the ...
;
Jacob Druckman Jacob Raphael Druckman (June 26, 1928 – May 24, 1996) was an American composer born in Philadelphia. Life A graduate of the Juilliard School in 1956, Druckman studied with Vincent Persichetti, Peter Mennin, and Bernard Wagenaar. In 1949 and ...
at
Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the worl ...
; Alan Stout and Bill Karlins at
Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Chart ...
; and at the
Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke ...
in London (1989). She was a Bunting Fellow at
Radcliffe College Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and functioned as the female coordinate institution for the all-male Harvard College. Considered founded in 1879, it was one of the Seven Sisters colleges and h ...
in 1990–91 and a Junior Fellow in the Society of Fellows at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
from 1991 to 1994. Thomas was the longest-serving Mead Composer-in-Residence with the
Chicago Symphony The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenur ...
, for Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez, from 1997 to 2006. This residency culminated in the premiere of ''Astral Canticle'' for solo flute, solo violin and orchestra, one of two finalists for the 2007
Pulitzer Prize in Music The Pulitzer Prize for Music is one of seven Pulitzer Prizes awarded annually in Letters, Drama, and Music. It was first given in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year, and this was eventually converted ...
. During her residency, Thomas premiered nine commissioned orchestral works and helped establish the MusicNOW series. Thomas has won an Ernst von Siemens Composers' Prize, among many other awards. She is a member of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...
and the
American Academy of Arts and Letters The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, music, and art. Its fixed number membership is elected for lifetime appointments. Its headqu ...
. A former chairperson of the American Music Center, she serves on many boards and, according to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, "has become one of the most recognizable and widely loved figures in American Music." Recent and upcoming commissions include those from the
Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera (SFO) is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. After creating the ''Opera Association of New Mexico'' in 1956, its founding director, John Crosby, oversaw the building of the first opera house on a newl ...
in collaboration with the
San Francisco Opera San Francisco Opera (SFO) is an American opera company founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola (1881–1953) based in San Francisco, California. History Gaetano Merola (1923–1953) Merola's road to prominence in the Bay Area began in 1906 when h ...
and several other opera companies, PEAK Performances at
Montclair State University Montclair State University (MSU) is a public research university in Montclair, New Jersey, with parts of the campus extending into Little Falls. As of fall 2018, Montclair State was, by enrollment, the second largest public university in New ...
and the
Martha Graham Dance Company The Martha Graham Dance Company, founded in 1926, is known for being the oldest American dance company. Founded by Martha Graham as a contemporary dance company, it continued to perform pieces, revive classics, and train dancers even after Graham's ...
, The Cathedral Choral Society of Washington D.C, The Indianapolis Symphony,
Tanglewood Tanglewood is a music venue in the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. It has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. Tanglewood is also home to three music schools: the ...
, The Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra,
Des Moines Symphony The Des Moines Symphony (DMSO) is a United States symphony orchestra based in Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of th ...
,
Boston Symphony The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881 ...
, the
Utah Symphony The Utah Symphony is an American orchestra based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The orchestra's principal venue is Abravanel Hall. In addition to its Salt Lake City subscription concerts, the orchestra travels around the Intermountain West serving ...
,
Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall is a concert hall located at 36 Wigmore Street, London. Originally called Bechstein Hall, it specialises in performances of chamber music, early music, vocal music and song recitals. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leadin ...
in London, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, JACK quartet,
Third Coast Percussion Third Coast Percussion is a Grammy Award-winning American percussion ensemble, based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The group, composed of Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and David Skidmore, specializes in new music/contemporar ...
,
Spektral Quartet Spektral Quartet is a string quartet based in Chicago comprising Clara Lyon (violin), Theo Espy (violin), Doyle Armbrust (viola) and Russell Rolen (cello). It is the ensemble-in-residence at the University of Chicago's Department of Music, where ...
, Chicago Philharmonic,
Eugene Symphony The Eugene Symphony is an American orchestra based in Eugene, Oregon Eugene ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, ...
, the Danish Chamber Players,
Notre Dame University The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin founded the school in 1842. The main campu ...
, Janet Sung, and the
Fromm Foundation Paul Fromm (September 28, 1906 – July 4, 1987) was a Jewish Chicago wine merchant and performing arts patron through the Fromm Music Foundation. The ''Organum for Paul Fromm'' was composed by John Harbison in his honor. Early life Born in Kitz ...
.


Early life and education (1964–1989)

Thomas was born in 1964 in
Glen Cove, New York Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York, United States, on the North Shore of Long Island. At the 2020 United States Census, the city population was 28,365 as of the 2020 census. The city was considered part of the early 20th century ...
. She is one of 10 children of James A. and Susan N. Thomas (née Norton). Her mother was a kindergarten teacher for 30 years at the Green Vale School. Augusta attended St. Paul's School, a boarding high school in
Concord, New Hampshire Concord () is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Hampshire and the seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2020 census the population was 43,976, making it the third largest city in New Hampshire behind Manchester and Nashua. The village ...
. She began piano lessons at the age of 4, and her teacher often assigned her small composition projects on the side; Thomas has said that these small projects sparked her interest in composition. She took up trumpet in third grade. After graduating from high school, Thomas enrolled as a music student (specializing in trumpet performance) at
Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Chart ...
in 1983. Northwestern's composition program is prominent today, but did not exist when Thomas was an undergraduate. An exception was made for her to pursue composition. Thomas studied with faculty members and composers Alan Stout and M. William Karlins. After earning a bachelor's degree from Northwestern, Thomas attended
Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the worl ...
to pursue a master's degree in composition. There she studied with
Jacob Druckman Jacob Raphael Druckman (June 26, 1928 – May 24, 1996) was an American composer born in Philadelphia. Life A graduate of the Juilliard School in 1956, Druckman studied with Vincent Persichetti, Peter Mennin, and Bernard Wagenaar. In 1949 and ...
. Thomas did not complete a degree program at Yale, finishing her master's degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London. There, she studied with Paul Patterson, the Manson Chair of Composition Faculty. Seven years after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London, Thomas was elected one of its Associates (ARAM, honorary degree), and in 2004 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music . In 1998, she received the Distinguished Alumni Association Award from St. Paul's School. In 1999, she won the Award of Merit from the President of Northwestern University, and a year later received Northwestern's Alumnae Award. Immediately after receiving her degree from the Royal Academy of Music, Thomas was awarded a
Guggenheim Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the ar ...
in 1989. At 23, she was the youngest woman recipient of the honor at the time.


Career

In 1994, Thomas married the British composer
Bernard Rands Bernard Rands (born 2 March 1934 in Sheffield, England) is a British-American contemporary classical music composer. He studied music and English literature at the University of Wales, Bangor, and composition with Pierre Boulez and Bruno Mader ...
. In 1997, Russian-American cellist
Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian cellist and conductor. He is considered by many to be the greatest cellist of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well ...
and the
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881 ...
premiered cello concerti by both Thomas and Rands in
Boston Symphony Hall Symphony Hall is a concert hall located at 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts, opened in 1900. Designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, it was built for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which continues to make the h ...
and at
Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th and 57th Streets. Designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built b ...
. Paul Griffiths wrote that Thomas “had led the way or the performance introducing andsto Mr. Rostropovich. Then, when the Boston Symphony asked Mr. Rostropovich what he would like for his 70th birthday, he said he wanted a new concerto, and wanted it from Mr. Rands”. Shortly after the completion of her Guggenheim Fellowship, Thomas began teaching at the
Eastman School of Music The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman. It offers Bachelor of Music (B.M ...
. She received tenure there at age 33. While at Eastman, she was appointed Mead Composer in Residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by conductors Pierre Boulez and Daniel Barenboim. She is the longest-serving Mead Composer in Residence, holding the position from 1997 to 2006. Her residency culminated in the 2007 premier of her work '' Astral Canticle'', one of two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Shortly after receiving tenure at Eastman, Thomas returned to Chicago to teach at the Northwestern University School of Music until 2008. In 2010, the
University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the be ...
announced that Thomas would be appointed University Professor of Composition in the Department of Music and the College. She is the 16th designated professor to be appointed by the University. In 2018, it was announced that Thomas had created the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition (CCCC) at the University of Chicago. The CCCC includes the Grossman Ensemble, underwritten by the Sanford J. Grossman Charitable Trust, which was designed to extend the legacy of the Contemporary Chamber Players. Thomas said she “hoped to enrich the university's long and distinguished history in contemporary music” with the CCCC, which is in its third season. In 2016, Thomas created and co-curated the Ear Taxi Festival, which featured over 350 musicians, 88 composers, and 54 world premieres. The two-day festival took place in Chicago and was meant to celebrate the city's “vibrant and booming contemporary classical music scene”. The festival's success earned Thomas the title “Chicagoan of the Year” from ''Chicago'' magazine, and is set to return to the city in the future. For the 2014–15 academic year, Thomas was a
Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal ar ...
Scholar. She was MUSICALIVE Composer-in-Residence with the New Haven Symphony, a national residency program of The League of American Orchestras and Meet the Composer. Thomas’s most recent works include an opera, ''Sweet Potato Kicks the Sun'', that premiered at the
Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera (SFO) is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. After creating the ''Opera Association of New Mexico'' in 1956, its founding director, John Crosby, oversaw the building of the first opera house on a newl ...
in 2019. The opera is meant for audiences of all ages and stars professional beatboxer Nicole Paris. Thomas co-wrote the piece with Leslie Dunton-Downer, a longtime collaborator of hers and a published writer and librettist. There are plans for the opera to tour the United States in the near future. Thomas's chamber opera LIGEIA, based on Poe's short story of the same title, received the International Orpheus Prize and was performed in Spoleto, Italy. Commissioned by Mstislav Rostropovich and Rencontres Musicales d'Evian, LIGEIA was premiered by Rostropovich at the 1994 Evian Festival. The American premiere took place at the Aspen Music Festival on July 27, 1995. Thomas lives in Chicago with her husband, teaches at the University of Chicago, directs the Center for Contemporary Composition, and composes. Her additional titles include: * Founder and Director of The Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition * Founded and runs th
Grossman Ensemble
for which she commissions and premieres the works of numerous other composers. * Vice President for Music, The
American Academy of Arts and Letters The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, music, and art. Its fixed number membership is elected for lifetime appointments. Its headqu ...
* Member of the Board of Directors of The
Koussevitzky Foundation Sergei Alexandrovich KoussevitzkyKoussevitzky's original Russian forename is usually transliterated into English as either "Sergei" or "Sergey"; however, he himself adopted the French spelling " Serge", using it in his signature. (SeThe Koussevi ...
* Member of the Board of Directors of The Aaron Copland Fund for Music * Member of the Board of Directors of the Alice M. Ditson Fund, Columbia University * Member of the Conseil Musical de la Foundation Prince Pierre de Monaco * Member of the Board of Trustees, American Society for the Royal Academy of Music, London * Member of the Eastman National Council * Member of the advisory board of
Third Coast Percussion Third Coast Percussion is a Grammy Award-winning American percussion ensemble, based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The group, composed of Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and David Skidmore, specializes in new music/contemporar ...
* Member of the advisory board of the Civitas Ensemble * Member of the advisory board of the Picosa Ensemble * Member of the
International Contemporary Ensemble The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) is a contemporary classical music ensemble, based in New York City and Chicago. ICE performs a diverse and extensive array of chamber, electro-acoustic, improvisatory, and multimedia works. History T ...
Board of Directors, 2007–2013 * Chair of the Board,
American Music Center New Music USA is a new music organization formed by the merging of the American Music Center with Meet The Composer on November 8, 2011. The new organization retains the granting programs of the two former organizations as well as two media progra ...
, 2005–2008 * Board member, American Music Center, 2000–2011 * Envisioned, created EAR TAXI FESTIVAL, October 5–10, 2016 in Chicago * Elected to membership, The American Academy of Arts and Letters, 2009 * Elected to Membership, The American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011 * Mead Composer-in-Residence, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 1997–2006 * Curator and director of the Festival of Contemporary Music, Tanglewood Music Center, 2009


Selected awards and honors

*She was nominated for the 36th annual Chicago Music Awards in 2017. *Her album ''Of Being is a Bird'' received
BBC Music Magazine ''BBC Music Magazine'' is a British monthly magazine that focuses primarily on classical music. History The first issue appeared in September 1992. BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the BBC was the original owner and publisher togeth ...
's Chamber Choice award in 2016. *The
Sovereign Prince of Monaco The sovereign prince (french: prince de Monaco) is the monarch and head of state of the Principality of Monaco. All reigning princes have taken the name of the House of Grimaldi, although some have belonged to other families (Goyon de Matignon or ...
made Thomas a Chevalier of the Order of Cultural Merit in 2015. *Thomas won Lancaster Symphony Orchestra's Composer Award for the 2015–16 season. * Lincoln Academy of Illinois awarded Thomas the Order of Lincoln in 2014. *''Ceremonial'', for orchestra, was chosen as a Recommended Work at the
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
International Rostrum of Composers in 2001. *In 2001, Thomas received an Academy Award in Music from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. *Thomas won an Ernst von Siemens Composers' Prize in 2000. *Chanticleer's album ''Colors of Love'', featuring two works by Thomas, won a
Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
in 2000.


Selected recent and upcoming projects

* ''Forest Of Shifting Time a ballet'' (2022) Choreographed and directed by BalletCollective Artistic Director Troy Schumacher and set to a vibrant 32-minute score for the Detroit-based Akropolis Reed Quintet, the ballet features whimsical costumes and props by artist and designer Doug Fitch and lighting by Ben Rawson. Featuring dancers trained in a multitude of methodologies, including dancers from New York City Ballet and alumni of The Ailey School and The Juilliard School: Graham Feeny, Jada German, Megan LeCrone, Zoe Liebold, Shelby Mann, Ava Sautter, Maxwell Simoes, and Haley Winegarden. November 2 and 3, 2022 at Trinity Commons, 76 Trinity Place, New York, NY. * ''Bebop Riddle II for cello and piano'' (2022) was commissioned by Tanglewood Music Center and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. * ''Sunburst a fanfare for youth orchestra'' (2022) Ideal for youth, community, and college orchestras was commissioned by the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Dr. William Wiedrich, Music Director & Conductor. * ''Dance Foldings for orchestra'' (2021) was commissioned by Radio 3 and premiered on August 8, 2021 by BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Ryan Bancroft at the Royal Albert Hall as part of BBC Proms 2021. The USA Premiere was given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, conducting in Boston Symphony Hall on January 13, 14, 15, 16 2022 * ''Crackle for wind ensemble'' (2021) was commissioned by a consortium of wind ensembles and was premiered on October 22, 2021 by the University of Michigan Wind Ensemble, conducted by Michael Haithcock. * ''Far Past War for large chorus and orchestra'' (2018), text by Cammy Thomas, commissioned and premiered by the Cathedral Choral Society of Washington, D.C., conducted by Steven Fox in the Washington National Cathedral on March 13, 2022. Made possible by the William Remsen Strickland Endowment Fund “to remember the concerts of the Cathedral Choral Society during World War II.” *''Upon Wings of Words, Emily Dickinson Settings'' (2021) for soprano and string quartet premiered at the Ravinia Festival, NEXUS Chamber Music with Kristina Bachrach soprano soloist. *''Filigree of the Sun'' for string quartet (2018) was premiered on August 4 and 6, 2021 by FLUX Quartet at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. *''Dance Mobile'' for small chamber orchestra (or for 13 players) in memoriam Oliver Knussen (2020), was commissioned by the Howard Hanson Institute for American Music in Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Eastman School of Music * The Boston Symphony Orchestra (Andris Nelsons, Music Director) commissioned ''Magic Box'' to celebrate the opening of its Tanglewood Center for Music and Learning on June 28, 2019 *''Con Moto'' for percussion quartetwas premiered on October 16, 2020 by Third Coast Percussion at the time that Thomas was Distinguished Guest Composer at the annual Bowling Green New Music Festival. * Thomas’s ''"Gwendolyn Brooks Settings"'' for Treble Chorus and Orchestra composed in 2018. Text by Gwendolyn Brooks received its world premiere on March 11, 2023 after a 3-year Covid Pandemic delay, by Anima – Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Stilian Kirov, conducting, Charles Sundquist, Chorus, Director. *Thomas’s opera ''Sweet Potato Kicks the Sun'' (librettist: Leslie Dunton-Downer) premiered at the
Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera (SFO) is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. After creating the ''Opera Association of New Mexico'' in 1956, its founding director, John Crosby, oversaw the building of the first opera house on a newl ...
, directed by John de los Santos and conducted by Carmen Flórez-Mansi, who also serves as Youth Chorus Director. *''Fanfare of Hope and Solidarity'' for orchestra premiered on May 22, 2020, by the
Utah Symphony The Utah Symphony is an American orchestra based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The orchestra's principal venue is Abravanel Hall. In addition to its Salt Lake City subscription concerts, the orchestra travels around the Intermountain West serving ...
,
Thierry Fischer Thierry Fischer (born 28 September 1957) is a Swiss orchestra conductor and flutist. Early life and education Fischer was born in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Zambia) to Swiss parents. He studied flute with Aurèle Nicolet and began ...
, conducting. During a period of mandatory social distancing, each musician performed from their home and the performance was edited together and premiered on YouTube. *The Indianapolis Symphony is to premier ''Sun Dance'' for orchestra, in memoriam
Oliver Knussen Stuart Oliver Knussen (12 June 1952 – 8 July 2018) was a British composer and conductor. Early life Oliver Knussen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stuart Knussen, was principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, and a ...
(2018), in 2023, after a 3-year Covid Pandemic delay,
Krzysztof Urbański Krzysztof Urbański (born 17 October 1982, Pabianice, Poland) is a Polish conductor and composer. Urbański studied conducting at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, where his teachers included Antoni Wit, who one year after lea ...
, conducting *''The Auditions,'' a ballet for chamber orchestra commissioned and premiered by PEAK PERFORMANCES and
Martha Graham Dance Company The Martha Graham Dance Company, founded in 1926, is known for being the oldest American dance company. Founded by Martha Graham as a contemporary dance company, it continued to perform pieces, revive classics, and train dancers even after Graham's ...
in 2019 with choreography by Troy Schumacher. *The
Des Moines Symphony The Des Moines Symphony (DMSO) is a United States symphony orchestra based in Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of th ...
commissioned and premiered ''Brio'' for orchestra in 2018. *The Chicago Philharmonic Society and Eugene Symphony Association co-commissioned by premiered ''Sonorous Earth'' for percussion quartet and orchestra in 2017. ''Sonorous Earth'' is conceived as a cultural statement celebrating interdependence and commonality across all cultures and as a musical statement celebrating the beauty and diversity of expression of bell sounds. *Jack Quartet and
Third Coast Percussion Third Coast Percussion is a Grammy Award-winning American percussion ensemble, based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The group, composed of Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and David Skidmore, specializes in new music/contemporar ...
premiered ''Selene, Moon Chariot and Rituals'' for percussion quartet and string quartet on March 5, 2015 as part of a “portrait concert” at Columbia University's Miller Theatre. It was co-commissioned by the Tanglewood Music Center in honor of its 75th Anniversary Season,
Miller Theatre Miller Theatre at Columbia University is located on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research un ...
, and Third Coast Percussion. *''Helios Choros'' (''Sun God Dancers''), a triptych for orchestra (2006–2007). ''Helios Choros I'' was commissioned by the
Dallas Symphony The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Dallas, Texas. Its principal performing venue is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra traces its origins to a ...
, is dedicated to
Sir Andrew Davis Sir Andrew Frank Davis (born 2 February 1944) is an English conductor. He is conductor laureate of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Early life and education Born in Ashridge, t ...
, Victor Marshall, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and was premiered on May 3, 2007, by the Dallas Symphony with Davis conducting. ''Helios Choros II'' was co-commissioned by the
London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...
and
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881 ...
and premiered by the LSO on December 14, 2008,
Daniel Harding Daniel John Harding (born 31 August 1975) is a British conductor. Biography Harding was born in Oxford. He studied trumpet at Chetham's School of Music and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra at age 13. At age 17, Harding assembled ...
conducting. ''Helios Choros III'', commissioned by the Orchestra of Paris, is dedicated to Christoph Eschenbach and premiered on December 12, 2007, in Paris at a festival curated by
Pierre Boulez Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez (; 26 March 1925 – 5 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war Western classical music. Born in Mon ...
at which his music and the music of other composers of his choice was featured. * Jennifer Kelly's upcoming book ''In Her Own Words: Conversations with Composers in the United States (New Perspectives on Gender in Music)'' features Thomas.


Selected works


Orchestral

*Cello Concerto No. 1 – ''Vigil'' (1990), for cello solo & chamber orchestra *''Meditation'' (1990), concerto for trombone & orchestra *''Words of the Sea'' (1995), for orchestra – Homage to Debussy *Violin Concerto – ''Spirit Musings'' (1997), for violin solo & chamber orchestra *Concerto for Orchestra – ''Orbital Beacons'' (1998) *''Ceremonial'' (1999), for orchestra *Cello Concerto No. 2 – ''Ritual Incantations'' (1999), for cello solo, concertino group of flute, oboe & violin soli, & chamber orchestra *''Ring Out Wild Bells, to the Wild Sky'' (2000), for soprano solo, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Song in Sorrow'' (2000), for soprano solo, female-voice sextet, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Daylight Divine'' (2001), for soprano solo, children's choir & orchestra *''magnecticfireflies'' (2001), for concert band *''Prayer Bells'' (2001), for orchestra *''Canticle Weaving'' (2002), concerto for trombone and orchestra *''Chanting to Paradise'' (2002), for soprano solo, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Sunlight Echoes'' (2002), for S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Trainwork'' (2002), for orchestra *''Dancing Galaxy'' (2004), for concert band *''Galaxy Dances'' (2004), a tone poem for orchestra *''Gathering Paradise'' (2004), song-cycle for soprano & orchestra *''Silver Chants the Litanies'' (2004), concerto for horn & chamber orchestra – in memoriam Luciano Berio *''Tangle'' (2004), for orchestra *'' Astral Canticle'' (2005), for double concerto violin, flute soli & orchestra *''Credences of Summer'' (2005), for orchestra *Violin Concerto No. 2 – ''Carillon Sky'' (2005), for violin solo & orchestra ''or'' for alto saxophone solo & orchestra *''Prayer and Celebration'' (2006), for chamber orchestra *''Helios Choros I'' (2007), for orchestra *''Helios Choros III'' (2007), for orchestra *''Terpsichore's Dream'' (2007), for chamber orchestra *''Absolute Ocean'' (2008), for soprano, harp soli & chamber orchestra *''Dream Threads'' (2008), for chamber orchestra *''Helios Choros II'' (2008), for orchestra * Violin Concerto No. 3 – ''Juggler in Paradise'' (2008), for violin solo & orchestra *''Jubilee'' (2009), for orchestra *''Of Paradise and Light'' (2010), for string orchestra *''Radiant Circles'' (2010), for orchestra eaturing Brass and Timpani; the percussion set up is very small requiring very few instruments.* Cello Concerto No. 3 – ''Legend of the Phoenix'' (2013) *Aureole (2013) *'' Hemke Concerto "Prisms of Light"'' (2014), for alto saxophone and orchestra *''EOS (Goddess of the Dawn)'' (2015), for orchestra *''Plea for Peace'' (2017), a vocalise for soprano and string quartet or string orchestra *''Sonorous Earth'' (2017), for solo percussion quartet playing bells from around the world (approximately 300 pieces of metal) and chamber orchestra *''Brio'' (2018), for orchestra *''The Auditions'' (2019), for chamber orchestra *''Clara's Ascent'' (2019), for string orchestra or string quartet featuring solo cello *''Magic Box'' (2019), for percussion quartet and string quartet or string orchestra *''Memory Palace'' (2019), for string orchestra (no basses) *''Fanfare of Hope and Solidarity'' (2020), for orchestra *''Far Past War'' (2020), for SATB chorus and orchestra. Texts by Cammy Thomas. *''Sun Dance'' (2020), for orchestra in memoriam Oliver Knussen *''Gwendolyn Brooks Settings'' (2019–2020), for treble chorus and orchestra. reble Chorus can be composed of a mix of adult sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, altos, with youth girl and boy sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, and altos.*''Crackle'' (2020), for wind ensemble *''Dance Mobile'' (2021), for small chamber orchestra (or for 13 players) – in memoriam Oliver Knussen *''Dancing Stars'' (2021), for open instrumentation orchestra or chamber ensemble of no less than 8 players. Instrumentation may include a group of voices singing open vowels. *''Dance Foldings'' (2021), for orchestra, commissioned by Radio 3 and premiered at BBC Proms 2021 *''Carnival (Bassoon Concerto)'' (2022), for bassoon and wind ensemble; and in version for bassoon and orchestra. olo part can be played by bassoon, baritone saxophone, euphonium or trombone.*''Sunburst'' (2022), a fanfare for orchestra (Ideal for youth, community, and college orchestras. Celebratory and optimistic. Only a tiny percussion set up is needed.) *''FIESTA! (no chaser!)'' (2023), for trumpet in C and wind ensemble; and in version for trumpet and orchestra


Choral

*''Alleluia (Midsummer Blaze)'' (1993), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir *''The Rub of Love'' (1995), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir *''Psalm 91: Verse 11'' (1996), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir *''Love Songs'' (1997), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir *''Ring Out Wild Bells, to the Wild Sky'' (2000), for soprano solo, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Daylight Divine'' (2001), for soprano solo, children's choir & orchestra *''Chanting to Paradise'' (2002), for soprano solo, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Song in Sorrow'' (2002), for soprano solo, female-voice sextet, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Sunlight Echoes'' (2002), for S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra *''Four Basho Settings'' (2002), for a cappella children's choir *''Fruit of my Spirit'' (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir *''Purple Syllables'' (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir *''The Rewaking'' (2005), for a cappella T.T.B.B. choir *''Juggler of the Day'' (2007), for a cappella S.S.A.A. choir *''Roses'' (2008), for S.S.A.A. choir & piano *''Two E. E. Cummings Songs'' (2008), for S.S.A.A. choir *''Flash'' (2011), for S.A.T.B & orchestra *''Spells'' (2013), for S.A.T.B *''Dappled Things'' (2015), for male or female chorus *''!HOPE'' (2017), for S.S.S.A.A choir *''Far Past War'' (2020), for S.A.T.B chorus and orchestra exts by Cammy Thomas*''Gwendolyn Brooks Settings'' (2020), for treble chorus and orchestra *''Freedom: To Be Free and Sky Bound In Memoriam Rosa Parks'' (2022), for treble voices ''or'' for tenor & baritone voices *''Light from the Heart'' (2022), for S.A.T.B. chorus - commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Byrd’s death


Chamber

*''Chant'' (1991, rev. 2002), for alto saxophone/cello/viola & piano *''Passion Prayers'' (1999), for cello solo & flute, clarinet, violin, piano, harp & percussion *''...a circle around the sun...'' (2000), for piano trio *''Fugitive Star'' (2000), for string quartet *''Invocations'' (2000), for string quartet *''Ring Flourish Blaze'' (2000), for sixteen brass *''Eagle at Sunrise'' (2001), for string quartet *''Murmers in the Mist of Memory'' (2001), for eleven strings *''Rumi Settings'' (2001), for violin & cello ''or'' violin & viola *''In My Sky at Twilight'' (2002), song-cycle for soprano & large ensemble *''Light the First Light of Evening'' (2002), for large ensemble *''Rise Chanting'' (2002), for string quartet *''Final Soliloquy of the Interior Paramour'' (2004), for mezzo-soprano, tenor soli & large ensemble *''Memory: Swells'' (2005), for two guitars *''Moon Jig'' (2005), for piano trio *''Angel Tears and Earth Prayers'' (2006), for trumpet & organ *''Silent Moon'' (2006), for violin & viola *''Toft Serenade'' (2006), for violin & piano *''Dancing Helix Rituals'' (2007), for clarinet, violin & piano *''Cantos for Slava'' (2007), for cello/viola & piano *''Scat'' (2007), for oboe, harpsichord (or piano), violin, viola & cello *''Scherzi Musicali'' (2007), for horn, two trumpets & trombone *''Squeeze'' (2007), for saxophone quartet *''Fête'' (2010), for brass ensemble *''Pilgrim Soul'' (2011), for cor Anglais & two violins *'' Resounding Earth'' (2012), for percussion ensemble *'' Of Being is a Bird, Emily Dickinson Settings'' (2015), for soprano and 9 players (It is optional to substitute the soprano with either a flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, trumpet, or viola) *''Helix Spirals'' (2015), for string quartet *''Avian Capriccio'' (2016), for 2 trumpet in C, horn, trombone, tuba *''Avian Escapades'' (2016), for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn *''Klee Musings'' (2016), for piano trio *''qì'' (2016), for percussion quartet *''Chi'' (2017), for string quartet *''Plea for Peace'' (2017), a vocalise for soprano and string quartet or string orchestra (The vocalise solo line can also be performed by Flute, Alto Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, Soprano Saxophone, Violin, Viola, Cello, or Countertenor in place of the Soprano.) May also be performed with string orchestra (no basses). *''Acrobats'' (2018), for flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, and piano ass clarinet can be substituted by baritone saxophone or bassoon.*''Con Moto'' (2018), for percussion quartet *''Ripple Effects'' (2018), for carillon (Three versions are available: 4 players (with many additional players joining in as piece accumulates) 72 bells, F-compass. 2 players, 53 bells, G-compass. 2 players, 48 (or 47) bells, C-compass. *''Song Without Words'' (2018), for soloist and piano *''The Auditions'' (2019), for chamber orchestra *''Clara's Ascent'' (2019), for string quartet or string orchestra featuring solo cellist of the quartet or the cello section of the string orchestra *''Magic Box'' (2019), for percussion quartet and string quartet *''Memory Palace'' (2019), for string orchestra (no basses) *''Your Kiss'' (2019), for soprano and piano or mezzo-soprano and piano or tenor and piano *''Star Box'' (2019–2020), for percussion quartet *''Magic Gardens'' (2020), for string quartet. Inspired by and based on Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens *''Dancing Stars'' (2021), for open instrumentation orchestra or chamber ensemble of no less than 8 players. Instrumentation may include a group of voices singing open vowels. *''Dance Mobile'' (2021), for 13 players – in memoriam Oliver Knussen *''Upon Wings of Words, Emily Dickinson Settings'' (2021) for soprano and string quartet; a version in a lower "key" for mezzo soprano and string quartet is published as well. *''Stardust'' (2021), quintet for soloist and string quartet: (soloists could be: English horn, oboe, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, or trumpet in C) *''Crescat Scientia; Vita Excolatur'' (2021), for carillon, 4 players (8 hands and 2 feet) (with many additional players joining in as composition accumulates) 72 bells, F-compass. *''Rings of Light'' (2021), a fanfare for 9 saxophones (or saxophone ensemble) (or for 9 clarinets or clarinet ensemble – 3 bass clarinets and 6 clarinets) *''Bebop Riddle II'' (2022), for cello and piano (or string bass and piano) -The entire work is pizzicato for the cellist or bass player (Also a version for marimba and piano] *''Bebop Riddle IV'' (2022), for reed quintet (Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Alto Saxophone in Eb, Bass Clarinet in Bb, Bassoon) – several other woodwind combination versions exist for this composition. *''Illuminations: Fanfare Sinfonia, for Solo Timpani, 9 Brass, and 3 Percussion '' (2023), horns, 4 trumpets in C, 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, timpani, and 3 percussion (very small percussion instrumentation)* ''Forest Of Shifting Time a ballet'' (2022), for reed quintet (Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Alto Saxophone in Eb, Bass Clarinet in Bb, Bassoon) – several other woodwind combination versions exist for this composition.


Solo instrumental

*''Incantation'' (1995), for solo violin, solo viola, ''or'' solo cello *''Spring Song'' (1995), for cello *''Bells Ring Summer'' (2000), for cello *''Pulsar'' (2002), for violin, solo viola, ''or'' solo cello *''Rush'' (2004), for violin *''Caprice'' (2005), for violin *''D(i)agon(als)'' (2005), for clarinet (and there is a version for solo soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone saxophone) *''Six Etudes'' (1996-2005), for piano *''Traces'' (2006), for piano *''Eurythmy Etude'' – "Still Life" (2007), for piano *''Love Twitters'' (2007), for piano *''Euterpe's Caprice'' (2008), for flute *''Dream Catcher'' (2009), for solo violin, solo viola, ''or'' solo cello *''Starlight Ribbons'' (2013), for piano *''Capricious Toccata'' (2016), for violin ''or'' viola *''Rainbow Bridge to Paradise'' (2016), for solo cello, solo violin, or solo viola *''Rhea Enchanted'' (2016), for solo cello, solo violin, or solo viola *''Venus Enchanted'' (2016), for solo cello, solo violin, or solo viola *''Two Thoughts About The Piano'' (2017), for solo piano *''Song Without Words'' (2018), for soloist and piano *''Bell Illuminations'' (2020–2021), for solo piano *''Bebop Riddle'' (2021), for solo marimba *''Enchanted Invocation'' (2021), for solo vibraphone and 5 crotales *''Amalgam'' (2021), for solo piano *''Riddle'' (2022), for solo cello – in memoriam Oliver Knussen *''Laetitia's Caprice'' (2023), a fanfare for solo soprano saxophone


References


External links


Official Augusta Read Thomas website

Augusta Read Thomas on the University of Chicago's website




December 3, 1993 {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Augusta Read 1964 births Living people 20th-century classical composers 20th-century women composers 21st-century classical composers 21st-century women composers Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music American classical composers American composers American women classical composers Bienen School of Music alumni Composers for carillon Ernst von Siemens Composers' Prize winners Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Northwestern University alumni Northwestern University faculty People from Glen Cove, New York People from Lee, Massachusetts Pupils of Jacob Druckman Pupils of Lukas Foss St. Paul's School (New Hampshire) alumni University of Chicago faculty American women academics 21st-century American women Members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters