American Composers Orchestra

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American Composers Orchestra

ACO exists to expand the definition of American orchestral music to ensure an inclusive and vibrant future. Its Composer Yourself! www.americancomposers.org.

American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is dedicated to the creation, celebration, performance, and promotion of orchestral music by American composers. With commitment to diversity, disruption and discovery, ACO produces concerts, an annual New Music Reading session through EarShot, middle school through college composer education programs, and emerging composer development programs, to foster a commu

nity of creators, audience, performers, collaborators, and funders. ACO identifies and develops talent, performs established composers, champions those who are lesser-known, and increases regional, national, and international awareness of the infinite variety of American orchestral music, reflecting gender, ethnic, geographic, stylistic, and age diversity. To date, ACO has performed music by 800 American composers, including over 350 world premieres and newly commissioned works. ACO’s Sonic Spark education programs leverage composition as a platform for creativity, and creativity as a platform for achievement, in public schools throughout New York City. intensive for high school and college students provides hands-on composition instruction. ACO recordings are available on labels including ECM, Nonesuch, Tzadik, and New World Records.

07/29/2026

Last chance to apply for VOX!

Submissions due August 1. Performances will take place April 1, 2027 at PAC NYC.

This opportunity invites composers of all ages who are U.S. residents to present
excerpts of their large- scale operatic works in a public setting. Selected pieces will be read by professional orchestral musicians and pre-professional soloists, along with a large chorus.

Originally founded by New York City Opera, VOX has long been a vital platform for new operatic works in development. Now, it returns as a landmark collaboration among seven leading New York City organizations that care passionately about supporting the future of opera: American Composers Orchestra, Beth Morrison Projects, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes Opera at the Mannes School of Music, MasterVoices, the Metropolitan Opera, and Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC).

Learn more at the link in bio, and at
https://www.voxamericanopera.org/

07/11/2026

🌧️ LOCATION CHANGED 🌧️

Due to the forecasted weather, American Fanfares on Saturday, July 11 at 2:00 PM has been moved to:

Van Cortlandt Park Golf Lake House
115 Van Cortlandt Park
Bronx, NY 10471

If your GPS has trouble locating the venue, use the Plus Code: V4Q5+J2, Bronx, New York.

Directions: From Van Cortlandt Park South, take the road that branches off the northbound I-87 entrance ramp across from Bailey Avenue. Follow signs to the Golf Lake House.

Sunday, July 12 at 3:00 PM will take place as scheduled at:

Matthiessen Park
1 Bridge St
Irvington, NY 10533

Rain Location:

Irvington Theater
85 Main St
Irvington, NY 10533

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Bronx Arts Ensemble
Musicambia

07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July! As we celebrate today, join American Composers Orchestra and Bronx Arts Ensemble next weekend for American Fanfares, a program of new brass fanfares by high school, college, and Sing Sing Correctional Facility composers, inspired by Steven R. Gerber's Fanfare for the Voice of A-M-E-R-I-C-A.

📍 July 11 – Van Cortlandt Park
🔗 https://secure.givelively.org/event/american-composers-orchestra/american-fanfares

📍 July 12 – Matthiessen Park
🔗 https://secure.givelively.org/event/american-composers-orchestra/6-12-american-fanfares

06/26/2026

Applications are now open for the next EarShot Readings with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the University of Arizona!

Selected composers will have the opportunity to hear their work rehearsed, performed, and recorded while collaborating with leading composers, conductors, and industry professionals. There is no application fee, and travel support and accommodations are provided for selected participants.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.americancomposers.org/earshot-composer-incubator/earshot-readings-tucson-symphony-orchestra

06/25/2026

Are you an ambitious high school musician with an interest in music creation? Don’t miss your chance to register for ACO’s Compose Yourself! Summer Intensive. Designed to guide young composers through learning notation, orchestration techniques, and positive approaches to creativity, the program offers students a hands-on, supportive educational environment. Be sure to submit an application by June 27. Visit our link in bio to register.

06/23/2026

Last week, ACO partnered with the incredible group of young musicians at the New Jersey Youth Symphony for a pilot of new EarShot educational materials centered on Edmar Castañeda’s Bordones.

Students explored the music alongside Edmar Castañeda, learning about the arpa llanera and the cultural traditions behind the work.

We’re grateful to the students, educators, and collaborators who helped make this pilot possible. Their thoughtful engagement is helping shape new resources that connect young musicians with living composers, new music, and the stories behind it! 🥰🎼

06/18/2026

⚠️ Job Alert ⚠️ We're currently seeking a Senior Development Associate (full-time) to support fundraising, donor engagement, and events! Learn more and apply here: https://www.americancomposers.org/open-positions-career/senior-development-associate

06/17/2026

EarShot 2026 🫂❤️ We are deeply grateful to our musicians, participant composers, mentor composers, staff, our guest conductor Jeffery Meyer, music liaisons, and everyone who joined us last week to celebrate our EarShot 2026 Readings. To our participant composers: congratulations. We can't wait to see where your journeys take you next. The future is yours. Cheers to new music and to the continued growth and advancement of composers everywhere.

BENJAMIN T. MARTIN, Unfurling Dances
SEARE AHMAD FARHAT, shadows rising soundless as night‍
CORAL DOUGLAS, TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY
STEVEN R. GE**ER, Spirituals for String Orchestra
1. Homage to Dvořák (“Goin’ Home”)
TY BLOOMFIELD, fragrances of something sweet‍
TYLER KLINE, West of the Sun‍
KIMBERLY R. OSBERG, Night Lights‍

Mentor Composers:
Valerie Coleman
Huang Ruo
Curtis Stewart

📸: Alfred Kan

ACO 2026 EarShot Readings are supported by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Address

494 Eighth Avenue, Suite 503 (building Entrance On 35th St. )
New York, NY
10001

Telephone

+12129778495

Website

http://www.americancomposers.org/

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