- Of course, the new electronic media make it somewhat easier to get your music out into the larger world. I think in the last ten years people have become more open to the idea of new music, less scared of it.
- Being a female, this is the best time to work, because we are almost over the whole 'female composer' concept. It's a very much easier time in contrast to the 1950s, say, when people felt rather constricted by a stylistic straitjacket.
- Financial rewards are not the primary motive in the arts. I have to write music. I never expected to get rich doing this. But it is nice to know that you can pay the rent, of course. Occasionally I freak out when I realize that I am still living like a student, but it's fine on a day-to-day basis.
- Many people wonder what a composer-in-residence is, as it sounds like a creature who lives below the Orpheum in the organ, ranks an lurks in the hall with a quill behind its ear, scribbling furtively.
- I'm writing essentially for the curious, whoever they may be, and to foster curiosity and a sense of fascination with new music in all music-lovers.
- I'm very interested in new sounds, fun things that are constantly being added to music. Crazy influences are always showing up and mixing themselves into new compositions that you would never expect.
- One of the funniest things is that there are still not many of us women composers or conductors, while now there are tons of female musicians...I suspect it's something cultural. When you are an orchestral composer, or a conductor, you are essentially telling a hundred people exactly what to do. This is not a traditional female role in our culture. We're not supposed to be that person.
- To a large extent, new music has become more attractive to audiences because the attitude of composers themselves has changed. Composers want to connect with their audiences, rather than baffling or alienating them. And composers have become much more open to adding things from around the world to their music. Nothing is now considered forbidden - you are allowed to experiment in all sorts of interesting directions, and to incorporate any number of influences.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content