New York, New York – September 18, 2015 - Stephanie Ann Boyd, a recent graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston, has announced a 2015/2016 season with several projects based in Boston and one project that will see a performance in each of the 50 states.
Upon graduating in the spring from New England Conservatory with a masters degree in music composition, Boyd was immediately commissioned by several new music groups to write pieces for the upcoming season. Washington Square Winds, based in NYC, will premiere Boyd’s Galliard on October 25th in Long Island, Cincinnati Soundbox will premiere Boyd’s Imogen for flute and piano on November 8th in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Kalliope Septet will perform Boyd’s new work for them several times over the next year.
By far the largest endeavor Boyd has on her plate this season is her 50 State Sonata Project. The project is a large scale co-commission; a new sonata for violin and piano being premiered by one violinist in each state. This is Part I of a two year project dedicated to the life and work of John Kendall, the man who brought the Suzuki method to the US in the 1960s.
In discussing the process of contacting the 50 violinists who will be performing the piece, Boyd said “it’s been so thrilling to codify and deepen existing relationships by choosing several long-time colleagues for this project. I’ve also really enjoyed meeting many new violinists through this project – what better excuse to make new friends than through new music?” Notable participants of the project include Er-Gene Kahng, Concertmaster of the Arkansas Philharmonic, Bryan Hall, Concertmaster of the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra in Alaska, and Curtis student Brendon Elliot.
Boyd is used to balancing a heavy work and composing schedule. As co-director last year of New England Conservatory’s Tuesday Night New Music series she organized seven concerts of new music in the school’s four halls and funded its new promotional platform with a grant she won from NEC’s Entrepreneurial Musicianship Department. She also helps coordinate the North Shore Chamber Music Festival in Chicago, run by violinist Vadim Gluzman and his wife, pianist Angela Yoffe. Most recently, her violin concerto was premiered in Jordan Hall by 2015 Michael Hill International Competition runner-up Eunae Koh, and in March conductor Gil Rose led the Boston Modern Orchestra Project in the premiere of her symphonic work Ondine. Will she take a break anytime soon? “No”, laughs Boyd. “Every so often I get letters from fans telling me to slow down, but I’m just getting started.”
Boyd lives in Manhattan and teaches private composition lessons via skype to a studio of international young composers.
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