benjamin broening / composer / about

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Check out Recombinant Nocturnes, my new CD on Innova. Some reviews here, here, here and here. #5 in Top 20 Classical Albums of 2011 here.

Benjamin Broening (b. 1967) is a composer of orchestral, choral, chamber and electroacoustic music. In the past few seasons his music has been performed in Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Estonia, Romania, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada and across the United States. Recent works include a clarinet concerto for Richard Hawkins, a multi-movement work for Zeitgeist, a sextet for Ensemble U: (Estonia), two works for clarinet and electronics for Arthur Campbell and choral/instrumental works for the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, the James River Singers as well pieces for pianist Daniel Koppelman and eighth blackbird.

Other recent works include works for cello and electronics and flute and electronics for members of eighth blackbird, a piece for soprano and electroacoustic music commissioned by the Arts Now Series at North Carolina State University, a cantata for the Charlotte Symphony and the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte, pieces for the Connecticut Choral Society, the Grace Choral Society of Brooklyn, and a multi-media cantata for Hampton-Sydney College among others. Other commissions a chamber work for Quorum Chamber Arts Collective, three choral works for the Virginia Glee Club, music for theater and dance, as well as numerous solo works for performers around the United States.

A recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship to Estonia, Broening has also received recognition and awards from the American Composers Forum, Virginia Commission for the Arts, ACS/Andrew Mellon Foundation and the Presser Music Foundation as well as a teaching award from the University of Richmond.

Recombinant Nocturnes, a new disk of music for piano recorded by Duo Runedako (Daniel Koppelman and Ruth Neville) has just been released on innova recordings has been called a  “gorgeous disc of music” and “thoughtful, eloquent, and disarmingly direct” by New Music Box, "deep, troubling” by François Couture François Couture and “Lovely, delicate, calming” by Los Angeles’ KFJC.

Other current recording projects include two works recorded by clarinetist Arthur Campbell for release in Spring 2012 on everglade and a solo cd of works recorded by eighth blackbird forthcoming on Bridge Records in Fall 2012.

Broening is founder and artistic director of Third Practice, an annual festival of electroacoustic music at the University of Richmond, where he is Associate Professor of Music. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Cambridge University, Yale University, and Wesleyan University.