News

David Lang has been appointed as holder of the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair for Carnegie Hall’s 2013–2014 season. Full details about the concert activities associated with his residency will be shared in late-January as part of Carnegie Hall’s full 2013–2014 season announcement. But we can reveal that a key element of his season-long appointment includes a special collaborative workshop in November 2013, offering commissioning opportunities for composers and chamber ensembles.

Creating New Music will invite several young composers and chamber ensembles to work together on the creation and performance of new works specially commissioned by Carnegie Hall. For this six-day workshop —presented by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute from November 15–20, 2013—Mr. Lang will be joined by Claire Chase and members of New York’s International Contemporary Ensemble as they coach the young artists through a dynamic process of collaboration, culminating with the public premieres of their new works in Zankel Hall.

Composers and ensembles are invited to jointly apply for this opportunity by February 1, 2013. Those accepted into the workshop will be asked to submit commissioned scores by September 1. Complete workshop information can be found here.

“Over the years, Carnegie Hall has had the pleasure of working with David—a composer of remarkable talent and imagination—and we’ve featured his music frequently on our concert series,” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s executive and artistic director. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with him closely on his programming for the coming season and are especially excited about his fall workshop. We’re certain that the young composers and ensembles involved will benefit greatly from his knowledge and musical insights.”

“I am so excited to be working with Carnegie Hall, and so honored,” said Lang. “Carnegie has been a big part of my musical life. I am a composer because when I was a boy, I saw one of Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts broadcast from Carnegie Hall. My first performance in New York was in 1982 with violinist Leslie Shank and pianist Jon Kimura Parker in Weill Recital Hall. My first orchestra performance anywhere was in the big hall in 1984 as the first-ever recipient of the New York Youth Symphony’s revolutionary First Music commissioning program. And, of course, Carnegie commissioned my Pulitzer piece, the little match girl passion. Everyone knows that Carnegie Hall is central to the cultural life of the city, but it is also central to the cultural life of me! I am very, very happy to be associated with Carnegie Hall and I am looking forward to having a really fun season.”

Creating New Music marks the first time that he will lead one of the Weill Music Institute’s Professional Training Workshops. The workshops—presented several times each season—are unique opportunities for emerging professional artists to explore performance and rehearsal practices as well as specialized repertoire with some of today’s leading musicians. A travel stipend and housing for participants from outside New York City is provided by Carnegie Hall. The workshops are tuition-free for participants and open for observation by auditors. Information on upcoming workshops and online applications are available here.