NEW MUSIC

A Ph.D. in Musicology might not be the most likely beginning of a career ultimately devoted so strongly to the advancement of composers and new music!  Yet, the through-line is not exclusively that of new music; rather it is 100% about human impact – about communication on a profound level.

“I fervently believe that artistic creativity is necessary to our survival as a human species.  To this point, I believe that our creative artists – in this case, our composers – are nothing less than our modern day prophets!”  

From this deepening conviction came . . . 

• PROJECT : ENCORE (P:E)– launched in 2009, sponsored by Ember Choral Arts, in response to the rapidly-changing world of new-music composition.  It is an on-line catalog of post-premiere, choral music which has been blind-reviewed and endorsed by a a panel of renowned conductors.  It has been recognized by the American Composers’ Forum, and by ASCAP, and heralded as establishing a new and necessary paradigm for score evaluation and promotion for the 21st century.

• “PROJECT : ENCORE News,” the monthly column in ACDA’s Choral Journal, is written by Dr. King, bringing news about new P:E endorsements into 22,000 households around the world! 

• Ember Choral Arts – By 2010, the choral organization that began life as Schola Cantorum on Hudson, found itself programming music of almost exclusively living composers.  Actioning a strong belief in the communicative power of contemporary voices, the organization not only continues to sponsor P:E, but has just birthed the Ember Ablaze Composer Lab, in addition to boasting an impressive resume of commissioned and premier performances – and always featuring the many marvelous PROJECT : ENCORE works!  Programming centers around socially relevant themes, weaving an eclectic array of styles and diverse genres, serving as a catalyst for fresh experiences.

• Ember Ablaze Composer Lab (EACL) – Newest branch of Ember Choral Arts’ new music initiatives, in which young composers compete for a commission and mentoring experience with Ember’s Composer in Residence.  Each composer has a live workshop experience with Ember in which to try out their first draft, and experiment with options.  The new works are ultimately premiered by Ember in concert.

• Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart- programming biannually produces a 1000-voice community-engagement experience, commissioning such composers as David Lang, Jonathan Dove, and John Luther Adams. Dr. King is always pleased to conduct in these large events.