Is the composers music terse or more lyrical in nature?
The type of musical gesture is critical in choosing a composer. With young voices like the opera company, musical challenge was extremely important; but the music needed to be melodic as well. Mark Volker brilliantly achieved all of the critical elements with this commission. The key to his success: he knew the organization intimately, since he served as a teacher at our summer academy. What kind of musical gesture would your ensemble prefer? Some ensembles appreciate enormous musical challenges. Boston Cecilia, with Scott Wheeler as composer-in-residence, has premiered very difficult music with great confidence and artistry. Some organizations enjoy preparing challenging new scores, while others find these scores daunting. Select a composer who can offer artistic challenge that is within your organization’s reach. Does the composer have a regional or international career? This is an extremely important question. As a conductor, I have been involved in numerous world premieres that are
