about the DuoSolo Foundation
The DuoSolo Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2008 by the members of DuoSolo. Its mission is:
• to support young composers and performers through educational opportunities including the Cortona Sessions for New Music, the the DuoSolo Emerging Composer Competition
• to support the commissioning, recording, and performance activities of DuoSolo
• to serve as a sponsor organization for the creative activity of Faculty and Fellows of the Cortona Sessions
• to encourage public support and appreciation for contemporary music through innovative programs, festivals, and outreach events
The DuoSolo Foundation believes in the power of music to be a true reflection of modern society. Music has the unique ability to completely express the beauty, pain, complexity, and joy of our world in a way that is immediately understandable by all. DuoSolo and the DuoSolo Foundation hope to continue bringing the most innovative works filled with this kind of social commentary to audiences, and in so doing, generate new lovers of contemporary music.
The Cortona Sessions for New Music
Each summer, talented young composers and performers from around the world join DuoSolo and a faculty of new music specialists in Cortona, Italy for two weeks or collaboration, concerts, and world-premiere performances. Fellows have gone on to establish their own festivals and programs across the U.S., and to receive major international prizes. A new partnership with the Civitella Ranieri Foundation brings renowned composers to Cortona for a day of workshops and all students enjoy and immersion in Italy culture and la dolce vita.
For more information about the Cortona Sessions for New Music, please visit our website at www.cortonasessions.com.
DSF PROJECTS
The DuoSolo Emerging Composer Competition
The DuoSolo Emerging Composer Competition invites composers up to the age of 35 to submit new works to DuoSolo for performance and a cash prize. The competition is presently on hold. Past winners and finalists of the competition are:
2012: winner: Paul Clift (Orange/Gray Monochrome)
finalists: Alex Au, Kevin Flowers, Simon Martin
2011: winner: Kay He (Dying Away)
finalists: Björn Sikström, Julian Day, Paul Poston
2010: winners: Nicholas Tsortzis (solo flute - Incompatible(s) III)
Marçilio Onofré (solo piano - Prélude VII)
finalists: Ramteen Sazegari, Sergey Kim
2009: winner: Nicholas Omiccioli (Invisible Worlds)
finalists: Jason Cress, Jeremy Sagala
The OK New Music Project
The OK New Music Project began in 2011 as a three-day new music festival at Oklahoma State University. Beginning in 2013-14, the single festival will become a year-long endeavor, bringing a variety of artists to Stillwater, OK for contemporary music residencies. The OK New Music Project is directed by Michael Kirkendoll, and supported by Oklahoma State University and the DuoSolo Foundation. In addition to bringing professional artists and ensembles to OSU, the OKNMP will bring Fellows of the Cortona Sessions to Stillwater to collaborate with the OSU Frontiers New Music Ensemble for world-premiere performances.
Upcoming and past guests of the OK New Music Project/Festival of Contemporary Music:
composers: Gabriela Lena Frank, Forrest Pierce, Ken Ueno, Nicholas Omiccioli (Cortona Fellow, 2010), Jason Charney (Cortona Fellow, 2012), Chris Prosser (Cortona Fellow, 2010/2012), Jason Barabba (Cortona Fellow, 2010/2011), Erin Tomkins (Cortona Fellow, 2011), Ryan Woodhouse (Cortona Fellow, 2011), Brendan Faegre (Cortona Fellow, 2013), Nicholas Virzi (Cortona Fellow, 2013), Dakota Wayne (Cortona Fellow, 2013), Devinder Kumar (Cortona Fellow, 2013)
performers: DuoSolo, Fifth House Ensemble, h2 Saxophone Quartet, Paul Barnes (piano), Kate Boyd (piano), Thomas Rosenkranz (piano), Gregory Oakes (clarinet), Amir Khosrowpour (piano), Sarah Tannehill Anderson (soprano), Kivie Cahn-Lipman (cello)
More information about the OK New Music Project can be found online at newmusic.okstate.edu.
The Cortona Prize for Composition
The Cortona Prize requests scores written for mixed ensembles featuring any combination of instruments in the Cortona Collective Ensemble. Members of the Cortona Collective evaluate the works in three rounds, culminating in the selection of the Cortona Prize Winner, as well as in selecting several composers/works as Special Selections. These composers are offered the opportunity to attend the Cortona Sessions have their music performed by members of the Cortona Collective. The winner of the Cortona Prize will receive a large scholarship to attend the Sessions, and will be commissioned to write a new work for the ensemble.
Winners of the Cortona Prize
2014: Dave Reminick