CMASH Composers
Miriam Miller
Miriam Miller received a B.M. in Composition from the Berklee School of Music in Boston and an M.M. in Composition from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. Her principal teachers include Marti Epstein, Paul Brust, and John Howell Morrison. Miriam’s works have been performed throughout New England and on the West Coast. Her most recent piece, Mame Loshn, was premiered in Washington state by the One Art Ensemble this summer. Mame Loshn is a cycle of songs for soprano, viola, and piano chosen from Yiddish poetry written by Miriam’s grandmother, Sarah Traister Moskovitz, an acclaimed Yiddish poet and translator. The Yiddish-language poems in Mame Loshn reflect the pioneering work Sarah did as a psychologist treating trauma and PTSD in child survivors of the Holocaust. Miriam’s other pieces range from small chamber pieces (Four Tightrope Dances for violin and cello) to orchestral works (The Town Crier for piano and orchestra) to electro-acoustic experiments (The Potato Chip Project for potato chips and harpsichord). In addition to her composition efforts, Miriam has been teaching music for 10 years. Most recently, she was chair of the Music Lab Department at the Suzuki School of Newton in Newton, MA as well as a faculty member at the Cambridge Music School in Cambridge, MA before relocating back to her native San Francisco. She currently teaches solfege, piano, and composition at the St. Brigid School in San Francisco, as well as privately throughout the Bay Area.
Miriam Miller received a B.M. in Composition from the Berklee School of Music in Boston and an M.M. in Composition from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. Her principal teachers include Marti Epstein, Paul Brust, and John Howell Morrison. Miriam’s works have been performed throughout New England and on the West Coast. Her most recent piece, Mame Loshn, was premiered in Washington state by the One Art Ensemble this summer. Mame Loshn is a cycle of songs for soprano, viola, and piano chosen from Yiddish poetry written by Miriam’s grandmother, Sarah Traister Moskovitz, an acclaimed Yiddish poet and translator. The Yiddish-language poems in Mame Loshn reflect the pioneering work Sarah did as a psychologist treating trauma and PTSD in child survivors of the Holocaust. Miriam’s other pieces range from small chamber pieces (Four Tightrope Dances for violin and cello) to orchestral works (The Town Crier for piano and orchestra) to electro-acoustic experiments (The Potato Chip Project for potato chips and harpsichord). In addition to her composition efforts, Miriam has been teaching music for 10 years. Most recently, she was chair of the Music Lab Department at the Suzuki School of Newton in Newton, MA as well as a faculty member at the Cambridge Music School in Cambridge, MA before relocating back to her native San Francisco. She currently teaches solfege, piano, and composition at the St. Brigid School in San Francisco, as well as privately throughout the Bay Area.
Liam Wade
Liam Wade is co-founder and Executive Director of CMASH; collaborations with CMASH performers have led to performances and outreach presentations across the United States, Canada and France. Since 2008, he has composed 15 songs for soprano Ann Moss, all of which premiered on CMASH's New American Chamber Music concerts. Wade's collaboration with the Cecilia String Quartet has produced two string quartets. Notable performances have been with La Jolla Music Society, ProQuartet, Toronto Music Garden, Noe Valley Chamber Music and Concerts at Old First Church. Last December, his String Quartet #4 was premiered by the Hausmann Quartet through Classical Revolution's residency at Red Poppy Art House. Current collaborations are with Cellist Rebecca Wenham, Soprano Ann Moss, the Hausmann Quartet and the Empyrean Ensemble for concerts scheduled throughout 2010-11. Wade studied composition at La Schola Cantorum in Paris, France and at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. He continued his study of composition as a private student of Philip Lasser in New York. He is currently a teaching assistant at UC Davis working as Production Manager for the Empyrean Ensemble. Last June, he attended Dweezilla, a musical bootcamp held in Woodstock, NY where he studied improvisation and musicianship with the Zappa Plays Zappa band.
Liam Wade is co-founder and Executive Director of CMASH; collaborations with CMASH performers have led to performances and outreach presentations across the United States, Canada and France. Since 2008, he has composed 15 songs for soprano Ann Moss, all of which premiered on CMASH's New American Chamber Music concerts. Wade's collaboration with the Cecilia String Quartet has produced two string quartets. Notable performances have been with La Jolla Music Society, ProQuartet, Toronto Music Garden, Noe Valley Chamber Music and Concerts at Old First Church. Last December, his String Quartet #4 was premiered by the Hausmann Quartet through Classical Revolution's residency at Red Poppy Art House. Current collaborations are with Cellist Rebecca Wenham, Soprano Ann Moss, the Hausmann Quartet and the Empyrean Ensemble for concerts scheduled throughout 2010-11. Wade studied composition at La Schola Cantorum in Paris, France and at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. He continued his study of composition as a private student of Philip Lasser in New York. He is currently a teaching assistant at UC Davis working as Production Manager for the Empyrean Ensemble. Last June, he attended Dweezilla, a musical bootcamp held in Woodstock, NY where he studied improvisation and musicianship with the Zappa Plays Zappa band.
Vartan Aghababian
Vartan Aghababian studied with William Bolcolm and Leslie Bassett at University of Michigan (BM, 1987), and with James Hartway of Wayne State University. After receiving a diploma in film scoring (1992) from Berkelee College of Music, he moved to LA to pursue a career as a film music editor with Warner Brothers Studios. 2 years later he returned to Boston to work as a freelance composer, scoring short documentary films and composing on commission. He completed his MM at the Longy School of Music (2002) studying with Eric Sawyer. He completed doctoral studies at Boston University (DMA, 2008) studying with Samuel Headrick. His music has been performed across the US, in east Asia, and in Europe. Mr. Aghababian has been Composer in Residence for vocal ensemble Recuerdo for six years. He is a member of the music theory and composition faculties at the Longy School of Music, Boston University, South Shore Conservatory, and the Winchester Community Music School; he directs chamber ensembles at Boston University Academy and at Longy School of Music. He teaches privately and continues to compose on commission.
Vartan Aghababian studied with William Bolcolm and Leslie Bassett at University of Michigan (BM, 1987), and with James Hartway of Wayne State University. After receiving a diploma in film scoring (1992) from Berkelee College of Music, he moved to LA to pursue a career as a film music editor with Warner Brothers Studios. 2 years later he returned to Boston to work as a freelance composer, scoring short documentary films and composing on commission. He completed his MM at the Longy School of Music (2002) studying with Eric Sawyer. He completed doctoral studies at Boston University (DMA, 2008) studying with Samuel Headrick. His music has been performed across the US, in east Asia, and in Europe. Mr. Aghababian has been Composer in Residence for vocal ensemble Recuerdo for six years. He is a member of the music theory and composition faculties at the Longy School of Music, Boston University, South Shore Conservatory, and the Winchester Community Music School; he directs chamber ensembles at Boston University Academy and at Longy School of Music. He teaches privately and continues to compose on commission.
Weslie Brown
Weslie Brown adores Bob Dylan and she loves Steve Reich. What's in between? Theatrical music - at least that's the way Brown hears it. "I am drawn to the innate pathos of melody and harmony. Emotional music tells a story, with or without lyrics." A jazz and theater singer, Weslie has released 3 CD's and premiered her one-woman show, Fried, in 2002. That year she joined the Academy for New Musical Theater. "It was the first time I was required to compose music seriously. As much as I love to perform, I prefer to wear the composer’s hat, exploring the labyrinth of musical choices." She won Best Music Award at the Beverly Hills film festival and a gold metal at the Park City Music In Film Festival for I Hate Musicals. She just completed a set of TV cues for Showtime's Dexter, and is co-writing songs for a new musical with Arnold Margolin.
Weslie Brown adores Bob Dylan and she loves Steve Reich. What's in between? Theatrical music - at least that's the way Brown hears it. "I am drawn to the innate pathos of melody and harmony. Emotional music tells a story, with or without lyrics." A jazz and theater singer, Weslie has released 3 CD's and premiered her one-woman show, Fried, in 2002. That year she joined the Academy for New Musical Theater. "It was the first time I was required to compose music seriously. As much as I love to perform, I prefer to wear the composer’s hat, exploring the labyrinth of musical choices." She won Best Music Award at the Beverly Hills film festival and a gold metal at the Park City Music In Film Festival for I Hate Musicals. She just completed a set of TV cues for Showtime's Dexter, and is co-writing songs for a new musical with Arnold Margolin.
Matthew O'Malley
Matthew O'Malley studied composition with Bernard Rands and Elliot Gyger at Harvard University (B.A, 2004) and Howard Frazin at the Longy School of Music. Since finishing his undergraduate studies, Matthew has composed music for short films, documentaries, commercials, public access television shows, and various small ensembles in a broad range of styles. Matthew has also produced and arranged music for popular artists Nick Diaco, MC Kabir, and Mieka Pauley, and is one of the primary producers for Rhythm, Rhyme, Results, a Cambridge based educational hip hop company. Matthew's compositions have been featured in many national and international advertising campaigns for companies including Nintendo, Volkswagon and American Express. Mr. O'Malley currently lives in Los Angeles where he works as a staff composer for Human Music and Sound Design.
Matthew O'Malley studied composition with Bernard Rands and Elliot Gyger at Harvard University (B.A, 2004) and Howard Frazin at the Longy School of Music. Since finishing his undergraduate studies, Matthew has composed music for short films, documentaries, commercials, public access television shows, and various small ensembles in a broad range of styles. Matthew has also produced and arranged music for popular artists Nick Diaco, MC Kabir, and Mieka Pauley, and is one of the primary producers for Rhythm, Rhyme, Results, a Cambridge based educational hip hop company. Matthew's compositions have been featured in many national and international advertising campaigns for companies including Nintendo, Volkswagon and American Express. Mr. O'Malley currently lives in Los Angeles where he works as a staff composer for Human Music and Sound Design.
Core Members
2010-2011 Season Contributors
Kurt Erickson
Kurt Erickson's music has been commissioned and performed by a wide range of chamber ensembles, orchestras, choruses, sacred music institutions, ballet companies, and colleges and universities. In 2006 his Toccata for Orchestra was performed by and the Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Osmo Vänskä. As a young composer in his 20's, he served multiyear sacred music residencies at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral (1999-2000) and at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi (2001-2003). In 2002 Erickson was commissioned by San Francisco Opera Ballet Master Lawrence Pech to create the music for the ballet Angels: Fallen & Otherwise. Erickson received a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at The University of Notre Dame, and studied composition at Mills College with Pauline Oliveros and Alvin Curran. As a composer/pianist, he participated as a Fellow at Yale University's Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Minnesota Orchestra's Composer Institute, the Chamber Music Institute (NY), Music 97 (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music), and in a residency program at the Banff Centre for the Arts. He has received grants and awards from the American Music Center, ASCAP, the American Composers Forum, Meet the Composer, and the Seaver Institute. Each June, he takes part in a composer residency working with young dancers at the Napa Valley International Dance Festival’s Creativity Workshop, where his ballet scores are performed at the Napa Valley Opera House.
Kurt Erickson's music has been commissioned and performed by a wide range of chamber ensembles, orchestras, choruses, sacred music institutions, ballet companies, and colleges and universities. In 2006 his Toccata for Orchestra was performed by and the Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Osmo Vänskä. As a young composer in his 20's, he served multiyear sacred music residencies at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral (1999-2000) and at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi (2001-2003). In 2002 Erickson was commissioned by San Francisco Opera Ballet Master Lawrence Pech to create the music for the ballet Angels: Fallen & Otherwise. Erickson received a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at The University of Notre Dame, and studied composition at Mills College with Pauline Oliveros and Alvin Curran. As a composer/pianist, he participated as a Fellow at Yale University's Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Minnesota Orchestra's Composer Institute, the Chamber Music Institute (NY), Music 97 (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music), and in a residency program at the Banff Centre for the Arts. He has received grants and awards from the American Music Center, ASCAP, the American Composers Forum, Meet the Composer, and the Seaver Institute. Each June, he takes part in a composer residency working with young dancers at the Napa Valley International Dance Festival’s Creativity Workshop, where his ballet scores are performed at the Napa Valley Opera House.
Jake Heggie
Jake Heggie is the American composer of the operas Moby-Dick, Dead Man Walking, Three Decembers, The End of the Affair and To Hell and Back, as well as the stage works For a Look or a Touch and At the Statue of Venus. He has also composed more than 200 songs, as well as concerti, chamber music, choral and orchestral works. His songs, song cycles and operas are championed internationally by many of the most celebrated singers of our time, including Isabel Bayrakdarian, Stephen Costello, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Ben Heppner, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Kiri Te Kanawa, Frederica von Stade, and Bryn Terfel, to name a few. The operas – most of them created with the distinguished writers Terrence McNally and Gene Scheer – have been produced internationally on five continents. Since its San Francisco premiere in 2000, Dead Man Walking has received more than 150 international performances. Moby-Dick, which recently received its 2010 world premiere in Dallas, was commissioned by The Dallas Opera with San Francisco Opera, San Diego Opera, State Opera of South Australia and Calgary Opera. Upcoming projects include songs commissioned by Carnegie Hall, The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and San Francisco Performances, as well as "Ahab" Symphony, commissioned by University of North Texas at Denton, where Heggie is guest artist-in-residence during the 2010/11 academic year. His most recent recording of songs and duets, PASSING BY: Songs by Jake Heggie, is available on Avie.
Jake Heggie is the American composer of the operas Moby-Dick, Dead Man Walking, Three Decembers, The End of the Affair and To Hell and Back, as well as the stage works For a Look or a Touch and At the Statue of Venus. He has also composed more than 200 songs, as well as concerti, chamber music, choral and orchestral works. His songs, song cycles and operas are championed internationally by many of the most celebrated singers of our time, including Isabel Bayrakdarian, Stephen Costello, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Ben Heppner, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Kiri Te Kanawa, Frederica von Stade, and Bryn Terfel, to name a few. The operas – most of them created with the distinguished writers Terrence McNally and Gene Scheer – have been produced internationally on five continents. Since its San Francisco premiere in 2000, Dead Man Walking has received more than 150 international performances. Moby-Dick, which recently received its 2010 world premiere in Dallas, was commissioned by The Dallas Opera with San Francisco Opera, San Diego Opera, State Opera of South Australia and Calgary Opera. Upcoming projects include songs commissioned by Carnegie Hall, The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and San Francisco Performances, as well as "Ahab" Symphony, commissioned by University of North Texas at Denton, where Heggie is guest artist-in-residence during the 2010/11 academic year. His most recent recording of songs and duets, PASSING BY: Songs by Jake Heggie, is available on Avie.
