Kristin P. Kuster (born 1973) is an American

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

of symphonic, vocal and

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

Biography

Kuster was born Kristin Peterson in

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...

and grew up in

Boulder, Colorado Boulder is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule city in Boulder County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 108,250 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the most ...

. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, where she studied with

William Bolcom William Elden Bolcom (born May 26, 1938) is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, a Grammy Award, the Detroit Music Award and was named 2007 Composer of the Year by Musical America. He ...

Michael Daugherty Michael Kevin Daugherty (born April 28, 1954) is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American composer, pianist, and teacher. He is influenced by popular culture, Romanticism, and Postmodernism. Daugherty's notable works include his Superman comic b ...

Evan Chambers Evan Chambers (born 1963, in Alexandria, Louisiana) is a composer, traditional Irish fiddler, and Professor of Composition at the University of Michigan. He received a Doctorate in music composition from the University of Michigan. His teachers in ...

, and William Albright. She was awarded the Charles Ives Fellowship from 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 of the United States, music, and Visual art of the United States, art. Its fixed number ...

and the Underwood Emerging Composer Commission from

American Composers Orchestra The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is an American orchestra administratively based in New York City, specialising in contemporary American music. The ACO gives concerts at various concert venues in New York City, including: * Zankel Hall at ...

. Kuster is an Associate Professor of Composition at the

School of Music, Theatre & Dance. She lives in

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

. She was married to Andrew Kuster from 1997 to 2011.

Style

Kuster "writes commandingly for the orchestra," and her music "has an invitingly tart edge" (''The New York Times''). Kuster's colorfully enthralling compositions take inspiration from architectural space, the weather, and mythology. Her orchestral music "unquestionably demonstrates her expertise in crafting unique timbres" (Steve Smith, Night after Night).

Works

Orchestra and orchestra with voices * ''Iron Diamond'' (2005) * ''Myrrha'' (2006) * ''Beneath This Stone'' (2007) * ''Rain On It'' (2012) * ''Devil's Thumb'' (2013) Opera and musical theatre * ''The Trickster & The Troll'' (2008) * ''A Thousand Acres'' (2022) Wind ensemble * ''Interior'' (2006) * ''Lost Gulch Lookout'' (2008) * ''Two Jades'' (2011) Chamber ensemble * ''Ando: Light Against Ahade'' (2003) * ''Jellyfish'' (2004) * ''Breath Beneath'' (2004) * ''Ribbon Earth'' (2008) * ''Perpetual Noon'' (2008) * ''Midnight Mirror'' (2009) * ''Perpetual Afternoon'' (2009) * ''Little Trees'' (2009) * ''Here, Leaving'' (2010) * ''Sweet Poison'' (2011) * ''Rain Chain'' (2012) * ''Parting Wish'' (2012) * ''Ribbon Windows, Curtain Walls'' (2013) * ''Readings From the Middle Seat'' (2013) * ''Red Pine'' (2014) Vocal ensemble * ''Myrrha'' (2006) * ''Bleed'' (2007) * ''Redness'' (2008) * ''Zephyrus'' (2009) * ''Home'' (2010) * ''Given a Body'' (2012, 2013) * ''Volta'' (2013) * ''Moonrise'' (2013) * ''White Hurricane: 1915'' (2014) Vocal solo * ''Silken Branches'' (2007) * ''Soon'' (2007) * ''Sorrow'' (2007) * ''Dream Black Night'' (2007) * ''Long Ago'' (2008) * ''King'' (2013)

References

Sources

Kuster, Kristin P.
biography at

Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records, which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about ...

Composer Kristin Kuster Wins 2004 Underwood Commission
American Composers Orchestra website

External links

*
University of Michigan
* , Xiang Gao (violin), University of Michigan Symphony Band, Michael Haithcock conducting,

Hill Auditorium Hill Auditorium is the largest performance venue on the University of Michigan campus, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The auditorium was named in honor of Arthur Hill (1847–1909), who served as a regent of the university from 1901 to 1909. He beque ...

, May 2011 {{DEFAULTSORT:Kuster, Kristin 1973 births Living people Musicians from Raleigh, North Carolina Musicians from Boulder, Colorado Musicians from Ann Arbor, Michigan 20th-century American classical composers 21st-century American classical composers American women classical composers University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni Classical musicians from Michigan 20th-century American women composers 21st-century American women composers