2015-16 Season

The 2015-16 season marks ACO’s 39th season as as a catalyst for the creation of new orchestral music, creating new opportunities for American composers and for audiences. The beginning of the season includes an Orchestra Underground concert at Zankel Hall – and a concert at Arts Brookfield’s Winter Garden to be broadcast on WQXR’s New Sounds Live hosted by John Schaefer.

Our first two orchestra concerts this season serve as the start and finish of our SONiC Festival, which highlights new music of composers under age 40 written in the 21st century. Through these 12 chamber and two orchestral concerts, we explore the boundaries of the imagination in the music of today’s creative generation.

The season also includes our 25th Underwood New Music Readings, our annual round-up of the nation’s top young composers, as well as emerging composers readings around the country through ACO’s EarShot network. We also return for the third round of readings of participants in the Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute which just finished its third series of week-long workshops at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music.

Friday, October 16, 2015, 8 pm
The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place
ACO: New York Stories (New Sounds Live – an all world premiere concert)
George Manahan, Music Director & Conductor
JACK Quartet
DM Stith, vocals
The Crossing, Donald Nally, director

ANGELICA NEGRON: Me He Perdido (I’ve Gotten Lost)
(World Premiere. ACO Commission)
ANDY AKIHO: Tarnished Mirrors
(World Premiere. ACO/Underwood Commission)
ALEX MINCEK: Continuo, Concerto for JACK Quartet
(World Premiere. ACO/NYSCA Commission)
JUDD GREENSTEIN: My City
(World Premiere. ACO Co-Commission)

Friday, October 23, 2015, at 7:30pm – Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Orchestra Underground: 21st Firsts (an all world premiere concert)
American Composers Orchestra
George Manahan, Music Director & Conductor
Hannah Lash, harp
David Tinervia, baritone
Paul Lieber, projections

MICHAEL-THOMAS FOUMAI: The Spider Thread
(World Premiere)
NINA C. YOUNG: Out of whose womb came the ice
(World Premiere. ACO/Jerome commission)
MELODY EOTVOS: Red Dirt | Silver Rain
(World Premiere. ACO/Toulmin commission)
HANNAH LASH: Concerto for Harp and Chamber Orchestra
(World Premiere. ACO/Carnegie Hall/Cheswatyr commission)
CONRAD WINSLOW: Joint Account
(World Premiere. ACO/Carnegie Hall commission)

Friday, April 1, 2016 at 7:30 pm – Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Orchestra Underground: Eastern Wind
George Manahan, Music Director & Conductor
Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, vocals & ud
Evan Hughes, bass-baritone

SAAD HADDAD: Manarah
(World Premiere. ACO Commission.)
REENA ESMAIL: New Work for orchestra and video
(World Premiere. ACO Commission.)
MEHMET ALI SANLIKOL: Harabat (The Intoxicated)
(World Premiere. ACO/Carnegie Hall Commission.)
GITY RAZAZ: The Metamorphosis of Narcissus
MATTHIAS PINTSCHER: Songs from Solomon’s Garden

Mid June, 2016
25th Annual Underwood New Music Readings
George Manahan, Music Director & Conductor
Derek Bermel, Artistic Director

ACO’s annual roundup of the country’s brightest young and emerging composers.