JUNE 25 – JULY 15, 2012
Residency # 146
Application Deadline: March 23, 2012

MELINDA WAGNER, composer

Melinda Wagner was born in Philadelphia, in 1957, and received her graduate degrees in Music Composition from the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania, where her principal composition teachers were Richard Wernick, George Crumb, Shulamit Ran and Jay Reise. Wagner achieved widespread attention when her colorful Concerto for Flute, Strings, and Percussion was awarded the 1999 Pulitzer Prize in Music. Since then, major compositions have included Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, for Joseph Alessi and the New York Philharmonic, and a piano concerto, Extremity of Sky, commissioned by the Chicago Symphony for Emanuel Ax, who has also performed it with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, and the Staatskapelle Berlin. In all, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has commissioned three works by Wagner: Falling Angels, Extremity of Sky, and a forthcoming work. Other recent commissions include Scamp, for the United States Marine Band, Little Moonhead, for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and Pan Journal, premiered by Elizabeth Hainen and the Juilliard String Quartet. Ms. Wagnerʼs chamber works have been performed by the New York New Music Ensemble, the American Brass Quintet, the Network for New Music, the Left Coast Ensemble, and many other leading organizations. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, three ASCAP Young Composer Awards, an honorary degree from Hamilton College, and a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Pennsylvania.

In the composers words: “Music offers composers an immeasurably rich and generous sonic landscapein which to explore the 'life story' of each musical idea---its dramas, intrigues, joys and sorrows---a life. Istrive to find various and persuasive ways of moving through the resulting temporal narrative, and totraverse a wide spectrum of expression and color on the way. Ultimately, I want listeners to know me; Iwant them to hear that, while I enjoy the cerebral exercise, I am led principally by my ear, and by myheart.” 

Residency Statement
I anticipate with pleasure working with, and learning from, Associate Artists who are not only passionateabout creating music, but also eager to engage in lively discourse with regard to process, style,technology, and myriad ideas concerning the arts. My residency will include several informal gatheringsduring which Associates will share and discuss their music in an atmosphere of mutual support,inspiration, and excitement about the future.

Application Criteria
Applicants should submit a resume, a brief biography, and a list of compositions and premiereperformances. Composers must include scores and quality recordings (CDs or mp3s) of at least tworepresentative examples of their recent music (i.e., composed within the last five years).

FULL Scholarships to attend FREE are available for painters and sculptors (through The Joan Mitchell Foundation) and composers (through The Sally Mead Hands Foundation) for ALL accepted artists who submit ACA Financial Aid forms upon acceptance. Limited additional Financial Aid is available for writers through The Pabst Charitable Foundation for the Arts and the Atlantic Center for the Arts Advance an Artist Program.